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BCCI hits back at Speed's statement

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty on Thursday hit back strongly at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Malcolm Speed's caustic statement regarding the state of Indian cricket and its administrators.

Shetty accused Speed of hijacking a press meet not meant for him. "The media conference in Mohali on Wednesday was ostensibly called for the ICC President Percy Sonn to interact with the Indian media, but it was hijacked by the irrepressible ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed. Mr. Speed, for the umpteenth time, harangued the Indian Board. This time he went a step further, deriding the entire Indian cricket itself," said Shetty.

Valued guest

"Mr. Speed is our valued guest and Indian culture teaches us to treat our guests well but he should not take this as our weakness. We would like to remind him politely not to exceed his brief as the CEO of the parent body and pass judgements on Indian cricket," Shetty added.

Taking objections to Speed's motives, Shetty observed, "What Mr. Speed did by talking about the status of Indian cricket and the performance is nothing but gross interference in the affairs of the Indian Board. In any case, I wonder how much does he actually know about the stakeholders in Indian cricket to take such swipes from time to time? Mr. Speed has chosen the wrong time and wrong place to debunk Indian cricket and its stakeholders.

The Punjab Cricket Association is one of the best-run affiliates of the Board and the facilities at the PCA Stadium have come in for enormous praise from all the visiting teams and the officials participating in the Champions Trophy," he said.

Ridiculing Speed's remarks on India only being concerned with making money and not worrying about its on-field performances, Shetty pointed out, "Will Mr. Speed say that the England and Wales Board (ECB) is not running its affairs properly just because their team has not won the World Cup?

For that matter, we must refresh Mr. Speed's memory that three sub-continental countries, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have won the World Cup and we don't claim that we won them because of our money power. Mr. Speed should also be reminded that India won the World Championship in Australia in 1985 and as recently as 2003 we were in the final of the World Cup."

Speed had stressed that India had won nothing worthy except the 1983 World Cup.

Uncharitable

Shetty concluded by asking Speed not to make uncharitable statements about India and its cricket. "It is interesting to note that Mr. Malcolm Speed has been meeting Indian corporates to solicit their support for sponsorships to ICC and on the other hand he is passing disparaging remarks about India's money power. It is time Mr. Speed desisted from making unfounded and uncharitable statements about India and Indian cricket.

If he has anything to say he should report to the ICC Executive Board or the President and not go public with his views. Mr. Speed must realise the fact that Indian Board is organised enough not only to develop our cricket but also to extend a helping hand to the affiliates and associates of ICC to develop and promote the game at the grass root level," said Shetty.

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