The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is virtually bullying Bangladesh for its position against the Big 3 proposal at the International Cricket Council meeting, reports Indian Bengali daily news paper Anandabazar.
“If you [Bangladesh] do not agree, the Indian cricket team would not visit Bangladesh to play T20 World Cup. We will also withdraw our team from the Asia Cup,” BCCI President N Srinivasan said.
“We will see what you [Bangladesh] do afterwards,” he warned.
According to the Bengali daily, India is threatening Bangladesh the most among all full members who have forme a rebel union.
The ICC meeting where the decision regarding Big three proposal was to be put to vote on Tuesday in Dubai is deferred thanks to a rebel union comprising of boards of Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The proposal, which is reported across the globe as an attempt by Big 3 to assume full control of ICC, is likely to bring about “structural changes” in world of cricket if it were to be passed.
BCCI, led by Srinivasan, is the biggest proponent of this proposal. It needs votes minimum seven countries to get passed; and as per the ICC constitution, it needs eight votes to bring an amendment.
In absence of Srinivasan, who could not go to Dubai to attend the ICC meeting, two Indian officials spoke to Bangladesh officials on his behalf. Bangladesh, though, didn’t seem to be convinced, when speaking to Srinivasan over Skype, says Anandabazar.
Ever since the proposal had been brought, Dhaka saw cricket fans took to streets protesting it.
Anandabazar further reports, similar pressure made Zimbabwe, New Zealand and West Indies to support the proposal. The daily quotes Zimbabwe’s president Peter Chingoka, who says India promised them funding which Zimbabwe were in no position to refuse.