BCCI threatens to boycott Denness panel

The Indian cricket board is ready to boycott the International Cricket Council (ICC) referee's commission set up to review the Mike Denness affair, president Jagmohan Dalmiya said on Tuesday.

The BCCI has informed the world governing body that its three-member panel should either not meet until the ICC's executive board meeting in March, or that a separate 10-member commission, with one nomination from each of the test-playing nations, be formed instead to review the affair.

Dalmiya said in a statement: "If these alternatives are still not acceptable to the ICC, BCCI will be reluctantly compelled to refrain from participation in the referees' commission in any form or manner."

The ICC formed the commission as a compromise after a row with India threatened the unity of the world game.

India had match referee Denness of England sacked without the permission of the world governing body during their tour of South Africa late last year. They were unhappy after he handed out bans to six of their players over their on-field conduct.

The ICC, feeling its authority threatened, responded by stripping the third match between South Africa and India of its test status.

INDIAN PROTESTS

The ICC confirmed the make-up of the commission last week despite Indian protests. The commission is due to hold its first meeting on February 23.

Dalmiya said he has written to ICC president Malcolm Gray to inform him that the BCCI would boycott the commission if its suggestions were not accepted.

He said the BCCI wanted South African judge Albie Sachs, who will chair the panel, to be replaced, arguing no one from the three countries involved in the controversy should be on the body.

"This is why we did not recommend a single name from India, including that of Sunil Gavaskar, who is in fact the chairman of the ICC cricket committee," he said.

India has also opposed former Australian test opener Andrew Hilditch and ex-Pakistan skipper Majid Khan, the other two members in the panel.

Dalmiya said Hilditch -- an Australian national selector -- was directly associated with the Australian Cricket Board.

Khan, meanwhile, had made unsubstantiated allegations that India's victory over Pakistan in a 1999 World Cup game was fixed, he said.

The BCCI has suggested such names as Justice Ahmed Ebrahim of Zimbabwe, an ICC match referee, Australia’s Richie Benaud and Ian Chappell, Gary Sobers and Clive Lloyd of West Indies and Imran Khan of Pakistan, all former test captains.

Dalmiya said: "The ICC commands BCCI's respect as a parent body. But it is a pity that although BCCI is a part of ICC cricket family, the Indian sentiments were not respected."

Mail Cricket Editor