Pawar adamant in his reply

The BCCI defended its stand on withdrawing financial benefits from players aligning with the rebel ICL, saying the proposed tournament was an “out and out commercial venture”.

The BCCI defended its stand on withdrawing financial benefits from players aligning with the rebel Indian Cricket League, saying the proposed tournament was an “out and out commercial venture”. The BCCI said the players were free to play for the ICL but it was only “fair” that they should not expect benefits and privileges from the Board.

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Responding to Congress leader Digvijay Singh's letter urging the Board to give up its confrontationist attitude against ICL, Sharad Pawar said the BCCI was a non-profit organisation and what it had done to popularise cricket was “obvious”.

“If they choose to play for ICL, it is only fair that they should not expect benefits from BCCI," Pawar said in his reply.