Subhash Chandra, the chairman of the Essel Group, which has launched the breakaway Indian Cricket League, made it clear that the ongoing ICL-BCCI stand-off is not an "ego clash" between him and BCCI president Sharad Pawar and said they continue to be warm friends.
"It seems to me that in a span of few recent weeks the ongoing standoff between the BCCI and the ICL is being painted as a personal tussle between myself and Sharad Pawar," Chandra said on Friday.
"Numerous media stories are portraying this issue to be an ego clash and/or personal rivalry between us. I would like to set the record straight. Nothing could be further from the truth! I have known Pawar for over 20 years on a personal basis and we have been and continue to be warm friends," he said in a statement.
Chandra emphasised his point, saying the decisions taken in the ICL and the BCCI were by a group of people and not by any single individual.
"Both of us understand that the ongoing standoff is between the BCCI, a collective body of 30-odd associations and their representatives, and Essel Sports.
"Each organisation is free to pursue its own interests as it sees fit and is doing exactly that. Therefore, the decision of BCCI not to collaborate with the ICL is a joint decision of the collective BCCI members rather than that of any individual," he said.
"Pawar and myself are very clear that this cannot and will not have any effect, or in any way dent our personal relationship," he added.
