'ICL was fall-out of World Cup fiasco'

In his annual report, the BCCI president lays the blame on India's WC debacle for the launch of ICL by the Essel Group.

Without mentioning the rebel Indian Cricket League or its promoters by name, BCCI President Sharad Pawar, in his annual report, has laid the blame squarely on India's World Cup debacle for the launch of ICL by Subhash Chandra's Essel Group.

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The BCCI Chief has said in his report for the year 2006-07 that the country's cricket was put to the litmus test and the players were in a daze after the Caribbean fiasco in March as it brought forth harsh criticism from the fans.

This was thought about as the ideal time by a private television company to announce a rebel cricket league in the country, according to Pawar.

"The year under review was challenging in more than one way. Our team's dismal performance in ICC World Cup 2007 put Indian cricket to acid test as it brought severe criticism from millions of Indian fans and our players themselves were in a state of shock and disbelief."

"A private entertainment company (Zee) saw this as an opportune time to announce a rebel cricket league in India," Pawar stated in the report which, for the first time in the BCCI's history, was distributed to the media at the end of its AGM in Mumbai on Friday.