Virender Sehwag says he is excited about the annual International Cricket Council (ICC) Awards.
“I’m very excited to be nominated for two awards (cricketer of the year and Test player of the year),” the India opener said in an interview on Thursday.
One wonders if the same can be said of the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India vis-a-vis the awards function. The event is scheduled to be held in Bangalore on October 6.
Sources say the BCCI is not too happy as the ICC is “presenting the awards in association with the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association (Fica).”
The BCCI does not recognise Fica. There is no Indian presence in the international players’ union, which is recognised by the cricket boards of England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa. The ICC, of course, recognises it.
One source hinted that top Board officials may not attend the function but they are unlikely to come out in the open over the issue.
One reason why the Board is exercising restraint is because of Sharad Pawar. “It is an ICC function and Mr Pawar is its president. We have to keep that in mind,” a top BCCI official told DNA on Thursday.
The ICC, however, stated that it has no knowledge of BCCI’s reservations. “We’re not aware of any issue from the BCCI. Fica has been part of every ICC Awards function since 2004,” one ICC official said. India last hosted an ICC Awards function in 2006. It was held in Mumbai just before the final of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Fica chief Tim May stated that the matter is between the ICC and the BCCI. “It’s up to them. We’ve nothing to say,” May told this paper from his home in the United States, before adding, “It is up to the Indian players and the BCCI.”
The Board, keeping the Pawar factor in mind, is not willing to give any instructions to the players.
This effectively means Sehwag can remain excited about the awards and, perhaps, walk away with a few.
