Tim May slams BCCI-fuelled ICC`s 'stand-over tactics'

Sydney: Ousted International Cricket Council (ICC) member Tim May has hit out at the game`s governing body, saying that it is time that someone stood up to the `cancer of stand-over tactics`, which he added, are defining ICC.

May, removed from an ICC committee following allegations of pressure from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was replaced on the committee by Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, a former India leg-spinner, who is employed by the Indian board as a commentator. Pointing out ICC`s chronic failure to enforce its own standards of governance, an angry May said that the issue is about the compromised election process, instead of being about his or Sivaramakrishnan`s election. According to the former Australian off-spinner, if boards had interfered and made threats to captains to change their votes, which he said was the crux of the matter, it is necessary to ensure that the players` representative is actually the representative chosen freely by players, not one forced upon the players by boards. May, who is also the CEO of the Federation of International Cricketers` Associations (FICA), further said that the body wants the ICC to take notice and monitor their own processes, and not just ignore matters which, he added, they are fully aware of. May, who has challenged all cricket boards including India on issues ranging from self-interested scheduling to the Indian-rejected Woolf report for revamping ICC governance, also said that although he supports some aspects of the BCCI, there are other parts which are a matter of concern for people like him. Agreeing with May, chief of the Australian Cricketers` Association Paul Marsh described India as a monopoly, and said that every board is equally guilty because of their reluctance to stand up to the BCCI for fear of putting TV money at risk. Stating that it is not easy to go against India as there is a risk of losing the big cash generated from India tours, Marsh, however, said that the if no action is taken soon, then the BBCI will soon monopolise all issues and grow more stronger and powerful. ANI