BCCI warns umpires on unofficial tournaments

The Board dashes off a letter to all umpires not to get linked with the proposed multi-million dollar league or any other tournaments without its approval.

After warning players, its own officials and associations, the BCCI has now turned its attention towards the umpires by warning them not to get associated with tournaments not approved by the Board.

HT Image

Without mentioning Essel Group's pet project Indian Cricket League, the BCCI has dashed off a letter to all the umpires not to get linked with the proposed multi-million dollar prize money league or any such unapproved tournaments, according to informed sources.

"Nowhere in the letter is the name ICL mentioned," the sources told PTI.

However, this letter and a previous one to all the associations, warning officials, players and committee members from associating with unapproved tournaments, have led to a piquant situation.

A lot of players are employed in the public or private sectors whose teams take part in tournaments not specifically approved by the BCCI, the sources pointed out.

"There are several tournaments played around the country. Which are the tournaments that have BCCI's sanction and which are not on its approved list is not clear at the moment," they indicated.

"But if the players' employers field the teams in such tournaments, how can they refuse to take part," they queried.