'ICC powerless to face India's dominance'

Former head of International Cricket Council's legal department David Becker accused BCCI president N Srinivasan of working against the interests of the game and using "manipulative tactics" to dominate the ICC.

Becker, who is currently the legal advisor of Cricket South Africa (CSA), has accused the BCCI, especially current President N Srinivasan, of bullying ICC.

But the Indian cricket board president Narayanaswami Srinivasan in his defence said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not a bully in the cricket world and all it wants is a fair deal for Indian cricket.

"(The ICC) has become powerless in the face of India's dominance, and are forced to succumb to the manipulative tactics of the BCCI - Srinivasan in particular – just to keep their jobs," Becker told 'Business Day'.

Becker said the itinerary for India's disputed tour to South Africa next season -- as released by CSA in July – was approved by the ICC board.

"There is a formal, unequivocal and unanimous ICC board resolution approving the current FTP schedule, including three Test matches and seven one-day internationals between India and South Africa," Becker said.

"When the ICC allows one of its directors to blatantly disregard an ICC board resolution it becomes more than questionable governance, it becomes improper," Becker said.

Becker also accused Srinivasan of pushing the ICC into illegality.

"There is one man who makes decisions at board level and they are certainly not in the interests of world cricket," he said.

"Directors' duties, conflicts of interest and matters of ethical compliance are routinely ignored. It's not only hugely concerning for the game, it's contrary to the regulatory framework within which the ICC operates, and hence it's illegal."

The lawyer, who worked at the ICC from 2007 during the tenure of Haroon Lorgat as chief executive, alleged that he left the ICC last year because he "could no longer reconcile my own values as a person and a professional with what I was witnessing at ICC board level."

The current spat between the two boards is believed to be BCCI's unhappiness at CSA appointing Lorgat as chief executive despite the Indian Board's reservations. The BCCI had been at loggerheads with the South African during his stint with the ICC.

Becker claimed that the BCCI was aware of the three-month tour schedule which it alleged was unilaterally released by CSA.

But both the ICC and CSA, where Becker is one of several legal advisors, have dismissed his revelations.

The ICC said Becker's statements are "inaccurate and unsubstantiated", querying why he is only making these claims 18 months after leaving his job at the ICC.

"However, having spoken with (CSA President Chris) Nenzani, we are assured that these comments do not reflect the view of CSA and are Becker's personal views," the ICC told the daily.

The ICC added that it is "optimistic that (the BCCI and CSA) can reach agreement on an acceptable way forward, in spite of Becker's comments."

Analysts have estimated that CSA could lose between 200 and 300 million Rands if the proposed India tour does not take place.