BCCI warns of boycotting Champions Trophy after ICC docks Indian eves

The BCCI’s relations with the ICC, headed by Shashank Manohar, hit a new low after Indian women’s cricket team was on Wednesday docked six points for not playing against Pakistan between August 1 to October 31 as per ICC Women’s Championship schedule.

There are possibilities that men’s team might not play Champions Trophy in protest against the women cricketers being made “soft targets” in the name of rules and regulations.

A furious BCCI has lodged a protest with the global body who are well aware that any bilateral series against Pakistan needs government permission under current political scenario. “...in prevailing situation where Indian soldiers are being martyred, the sentiment is dead against playing Pakistan,” a furious senior BCCI official said. “This is a move with ulterior motive. If ICC does not backtrack, the men’s team in solidarity with our women’s team won’t

play in Champions Trophy,” he added.

The decision was a result of non-communication from the BCCI. According to a source, there were multiple email communication from the ICC, but there
was no response to any of the e-mails to provide reasons for not playing the series.

The ICC went by the book and it would’ve been a different scenario had BCCI given in writing that the political tension and cross-border terrorism was the reason for their “forfeiture”. The ICC rule states that a documented reason is a must, which the governing body never had in its disposal.

It was also learnt that the BCCI has not filed any official appeal to the world cricket’s governing body.

An ICC technical committee assigned to decide the matter felt the “BCCI had not been able to establish “acceptable reasons” for not participating in this series” at a time when Indian teams had been playing Pakistan in other international sport events. The Indo-Pak clash in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Malaysia is being cited as example by many.