Monty Panesar, former England left-arm spinner has decided to pull out of the inaugural Kashmir Premier League (KPL) owing to ‘political tensions between India and Pakistan.’
The inaugural edition of the Kashmir Premier League ran into a major controversy after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) alleged that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was interfering in the internal matters of an ICC member. The BCCI hit back saying that they are well within their rights to take decisions with respect to the cricketing ecosystem in the country.
Monty Panesar Withdraws From KPL
Amid the controversy, Monty Panesar took to his official Twitter account and confirmed that he won’t be playing in the KPL.
His tweet read: “I have decided not to participate in the KPL because of the political tensions between India and Pakistan over kashmir issues. I don’t want to be in the middle of this , it would make me feel uncomfortable. #KPL2021 #Kashmir #india #Cricket #Pakistan #ENGvIND #TheHundred.”
Pakistan’s attempt to use ‘gentlemen’s game’ cricket as a political tool has been backfired as England’s former spinner Monty Panesar has withdrawn his name from the upcoming PoK league. The following development comes after South Africa’s former cricketer Herschelle Gibbs accused India’s Cricket board of threatening him against participating in a sham cricket league Pakistan has planned in PoK.
Monty Panesar further elaborated on his decision to pull out of the PoK League. Monty Panesar informed that the English Cricket Board (ECB) and Professional Cricket Association (PCA) had apprised him of the consequences of participating in KPL, including, cancellation of visa to India or denial of cricketing-related work.
Earlier, former South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs accused the BCCI of trying to prevent him from featuring in the KPL.
His tweet read: “Completely unnecessary of the @BCCI to bring their political agenda with Pakistan into the equation and trying to prevent me playing in the @kpl_20. Also threatening me saying they won’t allow me entry into India for any cricket related work. Ludicrous.”
Following this, the PCB released a statement, claiming the BCCI had once again breached international norms by interfering in Pakistan cricket’s internal matter.
The PCB statement read: “The PCB believes the BCCI has once again breached international norms and the spirit of the gentleman’s game by interfering in internal affairs of the ICC Members as the KPL has been approved by the PCB.”
As per a report in ESPNcricinfo, the BCCI has approached the apex board, the International Cricket Council (ICC), urging it not to recognize the KPL. The report stated that the Indian board has expressed its displeasure with the event to the ICC in writing.
Monty Panesar announced that he will not be participating in Pakistan’s sham ‘Kashmir Premier League’ and also warned the other participating players to think about the consequences first before taking part in Pakistan Occupied ‘Kashmir Premier League’.
ICC May Not Be Able To Do Much About The KPL Controversy
The BCCI is said to have based its complaint around the status of Kashmir as a disputed territory and the long-standing issue between India and Pakistan over the region. The report, however, pointed out that the ICC might not be able to do much about the KPL controversy.
Approval for domestic leagues like the KPL is given by the Full Member country in which the tournament is being played. The KPL has already been approved by the PCB. As for cricket matches in disputed territories, there is no such ICC regulation to deal with the matter. KPL 2021 will feature six franchises and is set to be held from August 6 to August 17.
The BCCI has informally told cricket boards across the world that anyone associated with the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) hosted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will be banned from participating in any cricket work on or off the pitch in India.
The controversy over Kashmir Premier League is creating a battle between the BCCI and the Pakistan Cricket Board. The PCB released a statement slamming BCCI’s alleged warning to several cricket boards against allowing their former players to take part in the tournament. The PCB said they would take up the matter with the ICC, calling BCCI’s actions against the spirit of the game.