The Indian Cricket League today received support from an unexpected quarter with Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh urging the BCCI to give up its confrontationist attitude against the break-away League.
In a letter written to BCCI President Sharad Pawar in his individual capacity, Singh said "instead of taking confrontationist stand you should act as a facilitator for the ICL to succeed.
"I am sure the objective of the BCCI is not to make the millions but to popularise the game of cricket. I am sure you will prevail upon the handliners in the Board and make them understand sentiments of millions of cricket lovers in India," said Singh, also a friend of Pawar.
"What is good for cricket and cricketers should obviously be good for the BCCI," he added.
The BCCI last week said any cricketer aligning with the Zee Telefilms proposed League would be banned from national duty.
Replying to a question, Singh dismissed suggestions that he was taking on Pawar and said he had written the letter as a cricket lover.
Singh said he did not have a "hidden agenda" in writing such a letter and felt Pawar was being forced by some of his colleagues to take the confrontationist stance.
{{/usCountry}}Singh said he did not have a "hidden agenda" in writing such a letter and felt Pawar was being forced by some of his colleagues to take the confrontationist stance.
{{/usCountry}}"I don't know why is he pre-empting this. It's almost like apartheid," he said.
The Congress leader also said BCCI was there for "cricket and cricketers and not to look after (its own) members only."