Kumble irks BCCI, could land in trouble for Champions Trophy comment

Photo: PTI

New Delhi: India’s Champions Trophy participation may still hang till the May 7th Special General Meeting but controversies are chasing the Indian Team and those associated with it like an inseparable shadow.

In a fresh set of obstacles, Indian head coach Anil Kumble has apparently landed into hot soup after letting his emotions flow about Indian’s Champions Trophy fate.

Kumble had reportedly approached the BCCI lamenting that he along with the entire Indian team are willing to board the flight to England to defend their crown in the Champions Trophy. BCCI, which is seriously thinking of boycotting the ICC event, has apparently not taken Kumble’s move in the most harmonious manner.

Some BCCI officials are irked because they want the matter to be left to the board, which is on a head-on fight with the ICC for changing the revenue-sharing model for which the BCCI is set to incur a hefty loss.

“It is the institution which decides, and not one individual. Kumble writing to the Board about his decision of wanting to play in the Champions Trophy was uncalled for. He had no business in doing this,” a senior BCCI member was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

“Kumble is going to be on a sticky wicket for this act once the Board members take control of BCCI. It is just a matter of time,” said another senior functionary.

Notably, Indian captain Virat Kohli and a host of other former Indian cricketers including Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly have also been vocal about the need for an assent for India’s Champions Trophy participation.

The CoA (Committee of Administrators) has also directed the board to select the squad for Champions Trophy after the April 25 deadline was missed.