BCCI to pursue direct talks with ICC on WADA

A day after the Union sports ministry indicated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was cold-shouldering it on the WADA issue,the BCCI has made it clear that it was in no mood to abide by the government stand,maintaining that WADA should drop the controversial ‘whereabouts clause’ for Indian cricketers.

For now,Shashank Manohar & Co have chosen to pursue BCCI’s case only with the International Cricket Council (ICC). “The BCCI’s stand on the WADA issue is the same as it was. We will next discuss the matter in the ICC’s special meeting next month (October 6-7 at Johannesburg). Whatever we have to say on this issue,we will coordinate with the ICC,” BCCI president Shashank Manohar told The Indian Express on Sunday.

Asked if the Board would reply to the sports ministry on the issue,Manohar said it was not on the radar,and that the BCCI wouldn’t comment on the Ministry’s observation. Manohar will attend the ICC summit where the BCCI’s objection to the ‘whereabouts clause’ will come up for debate. Till then,the BCCI has chosen to avoid any debate with the sports ministry on the matter.

Another top BCCI functionary,demanding anonymity,said that the Board was hoping the ICC will eventually back down to drop the whereabouts clause after pressure from other national boards as well. The BCCI is being backed by Australia (CA),England (ECB),South Africa (CSA),New Zealand (NZC),Sri Lanka (SLC),Zimbabwe (ZC) and Bangladesh (BCB).