India keen to keep hunger for success

INDIA will go out to enjoy their cricket as they aim to defend their Champions Trophy crown against the backdrop of a row over money with the international board, Virat Kohli says.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) backed out of a threat to boycott the 50-over tournament in a revenue-sharing dispute with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

But they only named a squad two weeks after the original deadline for the tournament, which starts on Thursday.

Kohli said the team were determined to keep their hunger for success.

“The hunger to win and ruthlessness is what we speak about all the time,” Kohli said before India left for England.

“The first challenge is to not think about that you are defending the title. When we went out there the last time, we just wanted to enjoy [ourselves],” Kohli said.

“We were a young unit. We ended up winning the tournament and creating a team which has done so well so far.”

The BCCI are angry at the ICC’s new revenue model that has reduced the powers of cricket’s big three – Australia, England and India.

The BCCI believes it will lose $277-million (R3.6-billion) in revenue over the next eight years.

Former India captain Kapil Dev said he hoped the row would not affect performances on the field.

“I hope all this talk doesn’t impact the players. But today, media putting so much focus on everything, it must be having some effect on them when they read and see the news,” he said.

“As a sportsman, I just want to be bothered about cricket on the field.

“Whatever happens otherwise, let the administrators take care of that,” the legendary allrounder said.

The BBCI are seeking a better deal before the ICC ratifies the new structure at its annual conference next month.

“We are just trying to get the board its rightful share,” a senior board official said on condition of anonymity. “But trust me, the revenue matter has nothing to do with the Champions Trophy.

“We work for the best interest of the players and our wishes are with them to defend the title and play the brand of cricket that they have been playing.” – AFP