ICC president and Bangladeshi national Mustafa Kamal is riled up about the fact that game’s governing body – ICC – denied him of his right to hand over the trophy to winning captain at the presentation ceremony of the World Cup 2015 final on Sunday in Melbourne.
The trophy, as it turned out, was handed over by current ICC chairman and former BCCI president N Srinivasan when in fact the ICC rules, which were amended in January 2015, require that ICC president should give trophies at global events namely World Cup, World T20, and Champions Trophy.
The amendment in article 3.3 (B), was unanimously agreed upon by memebrs in January 2015, is as follows : “With effect from the 2014 Conference Close Date, the President shall act solely as chairman at Conference and Special Meetings and be responsible for presenting trophies at global competitions and cricket events held under the aegis of the Council. For the avoidance of doubt, with effect from the 2014 Conference Close Date, the President will no longer act as chairman of the Executive Board or as chairman of any Committee or Sub-Committee.”
Kamal, in the aftermanth of humiliation, spoke to two Bangladeshi channels – Jamuna TV and 71 – accusing the ICC of not allowing him to perform his duty. He also threaten to expose his colleagues in ICC when he returns home.
“I was supposed to give the trophy today,” Kamal roared. “It is my constitutional right. But very unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to do so. My rights were dishonoured. After I go back home, I will let the whole world know what’s happening in ICC. I will let the whole world know about those guys who are doing these mischievous things.”
But as per ESPNcricinfo, he would not in any way of form connect the evnts of his snub to the controversial umpiring in India v Bangladesh quarter-final tie held in same city on March 19.
After the match Mustafa Kamal questioned the integrity of the umpires officiating, namely Allem Dar, by saying that the ICC should investigate the matter to see if the events were “deliberate or not.” After that the ICC and BCCI both in unquivocal terms stated that Kamal’s criticism was unfortunate and he should have raised it in ICC meeting not on any public platform.