ICC denies BCCI help over implementing Lodha reforms

The BCCI has asked for a letter from the ICC as a shield against the Lodha reforms. The BCCI and ICC have been at loggerheads since Shashank Manohar took charge of the world cricket body.

In an escalation of their confrontation, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday disclosed that it has refused to bail out the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in its tussle with the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee over implementing the reforms.

ICC chief executive Dave Richardson revealed that the BCCI had sought a letter from the world body, stating that it will disaffiliate the Indian Board if there is governmental interference as a shield against the implementation of Lodha Committee reforms.

However, he said it refused to issue such a letter unless a formal request was received from the member-board concerned.

"The BCCI President Mr Thakur did verbally ask the ICC to write a letter asking the BCCI to explain whether the recommendations of Lodha Committee might constitute government interference," Richardson said.

"But Mr Manohar said that the ICC should not write such a letter unless the BCCI first writes to the ICC requesting ICC to intervene or ICC receives a letter from another of its member board to do so. However, no such letter was received so far.

"So I understand that Mr. Manohar is reluctant to interfere in the domestic affairs of a member country. He will not do so without being formally requested by the member concerned.

"Without being formally requested to intervene, especially without the full consent of the ICC. Don't forget...the consequences of the government interference could lead to the suspension of a member board, and nobody wants the BCCI suspended," the former South African wicket-keeper batsman told 'India Today'.

He said the BCCI president, in fact, criticised the ICC for not providing help in its hour of crisis.

"Yes, there were other board members present when Mr Thakur made that request. As far as I see Mr Thakur criticised the ICC for not sending the letter," Richardson said.

The BCCI and ICC are at loggerheads over a host of issues after Shashank Manohar took charge as the independent chairman of the world body.