PTI
New Delhi, Aug 4: Hitting out at the BCCI for threatening to take action against players who join the Indian Cricket League (ICL), former skipper Kapil Dev said the board’s hostility towards the rebel series stemmed from its fear of being overshadowed.
“BCCI should not be threatening players because they cannot perform on the field under fear,” Kapil, who is the chairman of ICL executive board, told Aaj Tak.
“The board is scared of ICL. That is the only reason it is not willing to talk to us,” Kapil added.
The BCCI has warned current players against joining the league, which is scheduled after the Twenty20 world championship in South Africa.
Kapil reacted strongly to BCCI president Sharad Pawar statement that the rebel series would be a flop as it would fail to find enough spectators.
“The statement that the BCCI president has made is shameful. If the board thinks that only the National XI can attract crowds, then it should stop conducting any domestic tournament,” he said.
Kapil once against dared the board to sack him as National cricket academy chairman.
“BCCI is like a king and I am its subject. If it wants to sack me from the NCA then I cannot stop it,” he said.