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ICC to go ahead with commission despite Indian boycott
Despite the Indian boycott, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to proceed with its referees commission in the aftermath of the Mike Denness affair.
Despite the Indian boycott, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to proceed with its referees commission in the aftermath of the Mike Denness affair.
"The ICC is to proceed with the scheduled meeting of its referees commission in late February in South Africa, despite the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) decision to refrain from participating in the commission in any form or manner," the ICC announced in a media release in London Wednesday night.
The decision was confirmed by ICC President Malcolm Gray after cricket's world governing body declined BCCI's latest proposal to either put the commission on hold until after the ICC Executive Board meeting in March, or alternatively, to enlarge the size of the panel from three to ten people.
"The referees commission was a central part of the agreement between the ICC and the BCCI to save the India vs England Test match in Mohali. Having agreed to this detailed and costly process the ICC is extremely disappointed that the BCCI will not accept the invitation to express its strong views on these issues to the commission," Gray said. "Given BCCI's refusal to participate in the Commission in any form or manner, one alternative open to ICC would be to disband the Commission. There are, however, a number of important issues that require immediate resolution. After careful consideration we have rejected that course and decided that the Commission should be convened and deliver its findings to the Executive Board, as agreed with the BCCI. ICC made a commitment to BCCI and the public to investigate these matters and we are obliged to meet that commitment," Gray explained.
The BCCI, headed by Jagmohan Dalmiya, had told the ICC President that it would, "refrain from participating in the commission in any form or manner". "The Referees Commission has the full support of the ICC, but having consulted extensively and for a period of weeks with the BCCI - ultimately without agreement - the ICC believe it is now time for progress and action," Gray said.
Bureau Report
The decision was confirmed by ICC President Malcolm Gray after cricket's world governing body declined BCCI's latest proposal to either put the commission on hold until after the ICC Executive Board meeting in March, or alternatively, to enlarge the size of the panel from three to ten people.
"The referees commission was a central part of the agreement between the ICC and the BCCI to save the India vs England Test match in Mohali. Having agreed to this detailed and costly process the ICC is extremely disappointed that the BCCI will not accept the invitation to express its strong views on these issues to the commission," Gray said. "Given BCCI's refusal to participate in the Commission in any form or manner, one alternative open to ICC would be to disband the Commission. There are, however, a number of important issues that require immediate resolution. After careful consideration we have rejected that course and decided that the Commission should be convened and deliver its findings to the Executive Board, as agreed with the BCCI. ICC made a commitment to BCCI and the public to investigate these matters and we are obliged to meet that commitment," Gray explained.
The BCCI, headed by Jagmohan Dalmiya, had told the ICC President that it would, "refrain from participating in the commission in any form or manner". "The Referees Commission has the full support of the ICC, but having consulted extensively and for a period of weeks with the BCCI - ultimately without agreement - the ICC believe it is now time for progress and action," Gray said.
Bureau Report