Kapil Dev slams the BCCI, saying players represent the Tricolour, not the Board
MUMBAI: Former India captain and Indian Cricket League (ICL) executive board chairman Kapil Dev fired salvo at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) saying that it is doing a very unethical thing by not recognising the players contracted with the ICL. “It’s not right to prevent these talented kids from representing the country. If the board is not recognising these players it is very shameful and unethical,” Kapil told the DNA at a Mumbai studio on Monday.
India’s World Cup winning captain though took the opportunity to laud Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for their bold decision to allow ICL players in the domestic circuit. The former all-rounder felt that it was easy to take such a decision as they are being led by none other than Arjuna Ranatunga. “Since Arjuna played the game more than anyone else in our board, he knows that by denying a chance to any cricketer will not help the country to progress further,” Kapil felt.
He lamented that there was none like Arjuna who understands the sentiments of the players. “We don’t have anyone like Arjuna, who took such a cricketing decision.”
Kapil came down heavily on the BCCI further. “The players are from our own country and they deserve the chance to turn out for our country. If somebody thinks that our players won’t be able to play for the country, I think they are wrong and they are going against the country’s feeling…Players who play for India don’t represent BCCI but they represent the tricolour which everyone has the right to do,” Kapil spit fire reminding that when they won the World Cup in 1983, it was India not the BCCI that won the Cup.
“In 1983, India won the World Cup and not the BCCI .”
Meanwhile, when asked about his comment on Sachin Tendulkar, who has the chance of overtaking Brian Lara as the highest scorer in Test cricket, Kapil had a lot of praise for the Little Master. “A player of his calibre doesn’t need any message from me, My best wishes are with him so that he comes out with flying colours,” Kapil said.
The former hero of Indian cricket, however, threw his weight behind the Fab Four who are facing serious criticisms. “If they can score runs, they should be in the team… We should not disrespect the players who have served the country for so many years.” But he avoided the query whether more youngsters should be drafted in.
A player, who never believed in predictions, predicted a good result for India against Aussies in the four-Test series starting in Bangalore on Thursday. “I hope we play the best possible game and win. I wish them all the best,” he quipped.
