Suspense ends, Kohli’s boys to take part in Champions Trophy
BCCI clears India's Champions Trophy participation, no legal notice to ICC
NEW DELHI: The Indian cricket team will participate in next month’s Champions Trophy after the BCCI gave its all-clear to the move in a Special General Meeting on Sunday, a massive climb down from its initial aggressive stance.
The Board announced that the squad for the eight-team event, starting June 1 in England, will be picked on Monday.
It was decided that no legal recourse will be taken against the ICC as per the diktat of the Committee Of Administrators (COA).
The ICC welcomed the decision from the BCCI to confirm the participation of defending champions India.
“The hundreds of millions of cricket fans around the world just want to see good cricket and now we can all look forward to a superb event in England and Wales starting on June 1,” an ICC official said.
The SGM completely abided by the COA instruction of sending the team and not serving any notice to global body, which has nearly halved the BCCI’S revenue share and cut down on its executive powers by revamping the controversial ‘Big Three’ administrative structure.
It was a setback for the ousted N Srinivasan faction which was keen to take an aggressive stand. Srinivasan, in fact, joined the discussions via Skype to air his views but didn’t take a confrontational stand.
“The outcome of the meeting has been positive. India will participate in the Champions Trophy. There is no pulling out. On Monday the squad will be sent to the ICC,” IPL governing council member Rajeev Shukla told reporters after the meeting.
“The honorary Secretary (Amitabh Chaudhary) has been authorised to renegotiate with ICC as far as the financial model is concerned. There will be no binding on him.
COA head Vinod Rai said he had already informed the players that they were going to the event starting June 1 in England.
“Of course I am relieved that they are playing Champions Trophy. But players always knew they were going. I had spoken personally to Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli that you guys are playing Champions Trophy. I have always said that USD 100 million more is okay,” Rai said.