The International Cricket Council on Wednesday said the process to appeal against a life ban was ratified by its board members way back in 2004 and the Board of Control for Cricket in India is also aware of it.

"The process for appealing against a ban is in place. The process was ratified by the executive board of the ICC [Images] in 2004 and the BCCI was represented in all of those four meetings where the decision took place.

"They were there, and then the decision was also documented and sent to them. There is no mystery about it," ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed [Images] said in Chandigarh on Wednesday.

- All about the match-fixing scandal

Speed was reacting to criticism the BCCI's life ban on former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin, for his alleged role in match-fixing scandal, has come under of late.

The new BCCI regime, under Sharad Pawar [Images], has indicated that it would like to lift the ban. PCA president I S Bindra had said a few days back that he was not aware if there is a process in place to apply to the governing body for lifting the ban.

"The process is already known by all the members. Ata-ur Rehman [former Pakistan fast bowler] has already made an application under this process so that he can clear his name," Speed said.

Azharuddin is expected to visit the Mohali stadium on Wednesday to watch the first semi-final between Australia and New Zealand [Images] after receiving an invitation from the PCA. This would be followed by his felicitation along with other former captains by the BCCI at their function in Mumbai on November 4.

ICC president Percy Sonn said he would attend the inauguration of the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on November 4, the Azharuddin issue notwithstanding. The ICC was earlier reluctant to commit its participation in the function after it was revealed that Azharuddin would be among the guests to be honoured.

"ICC doesn't run its member boards' domestic affairs. As far as we are concerned Azhar's status remains the same. We will have to follow the process if his ban has to be lifted. Azhar was banned from playing cricket and it was ratified by the ICC, which was also accepted by the members. There is no change in that position," Sonn said.

Speed also reiterated that the ICC is delighted to be part of the event.

"We had discussed regarding attending the event. I am happy with Sonn's decision to attend the function. I have know many of the former Indian captains who will be attending the event and it will be a great opportunity to meet up with them," he said.

The ICC president also said he had a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] this week in New Delhi.

"I met the Indian Prime Minister a few days ago and had a good discussion with him. We spoke for about 30 minutes and he said that he was happy with the role the ICC is performing," Soon said.

"I have also met BCCI president Sharad Pawar and other Board officials and I must say I am happy with the interaction. It was a fruitful meeting and I am happy with Pawar's vision for the future," he added.