After former South African cricketer Herschelle Gibbs accused the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) of preventing his participation in the Kashmir Premier League (KPL), the board cleared its status on the controversy.
Gibbs alleged that BCCI threatened him that he wouldn’t be allowed to enter into India for any cricket related work if he participated in the cricket league in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK).
After which Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had shown its unhappiness to this and said that BCCI is trying to interfere in the PCB’s internal affairs.
Now, BCCI has written to the ICC requesting it to not recognize KPL which is set to begin on August 6.
As per reports, BCCI’s complaint is due to status of PoK and whether matches can be played there as there is a long running dispute between two countries. Also it has been said that they have done this keeping national interest in mind.
There is no problem with those playing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) but this is a league in PoK, said an official.
The BCCI’s concern centres, however, on the foreign players signed up with the league, on the basis that international players turn the tournament into something more than just a domestic event and give it international legitimacy of sorts.
But it seems that the ICC can do little about it because consent for such domestic leagues is given by the Full Member country in which the tournament is being played and the KPL has the PCB’s approval. Also, nothing is mentioned in any ICC regulations about matches in disputed territories.