Kapil thunders, Chandigarh wavers

The Chandigarh, Sector-16 Cricket Stadium has been allotted an India-Australia tour ODI, but at the same time it has been the focus of attention as a venue for ICL matches. As per the Board8217;s mood and dictum, the two cannot exist side by side.

The UT Administration has officially denied any dealing with the ICL, but now it seems there are small pockets doubt that exist, still. They are now waiting for the arrival of Kapil to arrive at a decision. At its recent working committee meeting in New Delhi the Board head honchos had decided that the Board would have nothing to do with the ICL and that it would also deal with the people who have openly aligned themselves with the Essel Group8217;s venture.

Three top ex cricketers 8212; Kapil Dev, Sandeep Patil and Kiran More have already aligned themselves with the ICL, and earned the BCCI8217;s wrath. Kapil is the Chairman of the ICL8217;s Executive Board.

The Board warned that not only would the cricketers be taken to task, but that they would also be denied their dues, like pension. The Board shot a letter to Kapil, asking him not to align with the ICL, but the World Cup winning skipper of India Remains unperturbed.

8220;I have already sent my reply to them,8221; Kapil told the news channel. 8220;They can remove me from the NCA if they want to,8221; he said. That is as direct an affront with the Board as can be. Kapil countered with his own argument.

8220;They only wanted me to contribute to the game of cricket, and when I am doing so they cannot challenge me. If I can do something for the game and the young cricketers through Indian Cricket League, I will not budge,8221; he said.

More, though has taken the necessary steps to distance himself from the Board8217;s activity. More was the secretary of the Baroda Cricket Association when joined the ICL and has thereafter resigned from that post the Board wanted him to do that too.

Not that is Kapil is worried about the pension issue to. 8220;I did not go to them asking for pension and if they want to stop it, what can I do? Let them stop it,8221; he said, and asked if he has asked the Board8217;s permission on joining the ICL, he said: 8220;I don8217;t need to ask the BCCI for every small thing.8221;

And meanwhile, the issue is heating up things in Chandigarh. The Sports Department is waiting for Kapil to come to Chandigarh later in the week for further discussions.

The ICL proposal came on July 2 in which the ICL wanted to lease the ground for three years so that they would hold the matches of the proposed ICL8217;s Twenty-20 Series at the stadium. In return, they had proposed to further renovate the stadium and install flood-lights on their expenses.

Accepting the ICL offer would have meant the arrival of stars like Brian Lara, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Inzamam-ul Haq and the like, all aligned with the ICL, as well as more cricket and more money.

But ICL would not only mean denial of the Board8217;s official series, but also the possible banishment from the BCCI other associates like officials, umpires and the like.

It may be recalled, that the Stadium has got to host an International match after a gap of 14 years.

With inputs from New Delhi