We won't recognise ICL unless BCCI does: ICC

The ICC has thrown its weight behind the Indian board in the latter's stand-off with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), saying the BCCI was its "only recognised body" to administer the sport in India.

"We have not got any application from the ICL [for recognition] yet, but we already have a five-step process to decide on such issues," Malcolm Speed, the ICC's chief executive, said.

The first four steps in the process of approving a tournament by a private body involved checks on: Whether it's run for the development of the game or for charitable purposes; the players involved, and whether they were all contracted to their parent boards; the time and venue of the matches; and whether anti-corruption measures were put in place to run the event.

The critical stage was the final one, where the applicants were asked whether the member board of the country had approved it. "If the answer is no we would not give it our recognition," Speed said.

He cited the example of a tournament planned last year in the USA, which was shot down by the ICC for not fulfilling the criteria he had mentioned.

Speed also referred to what one of ICL's talent scouts, Dean Jones, thought about the matches the ICL planned to organise. "From what I gather they are seeking to run what I can call within quotes unofficial cricket. Dean Jones was criticised in Australia for joining the ICL and his reply was that it was only glorified exhibition matches.

"I have come to understand through media reports, and after talking to people in India, that what the ICL has planned is two to three weeks of Twenty20 cricket with six teams having three or four retired or retiring international cricketers and domestic cricketers.

"We keep getting requests from private organisations for allowing them to organise events. ICC traditionally allows its members to run cricket. ICC does not interfere if a member board disciplines or does not discipline its players. At this stage all I can say is we have not been approached [by the ICL]," he said.

Speed, however, said he would personally be extremely disappointed if Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf, who has joined the ICL, is not seen in action in the forthcoming India-Pakistan series. "Yousuf is at the peak of his career. My personal view is it will be extremely disappointing if he does not play in the series between India and Pakistan." The Pakistan board has already decided not to consider those who join the ICL for international matches.