International Cricket Council (ICC) President Mustafa Kamal is reportedly considering legal action against Cricket’s governing body following their decision to exclude him from the prize distribution ceremony final of the Cricket World Cup. Australia won the title for the fifth time in front of a record crowd of over 93,000 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, beating co-hosts New Zealand by seven wickets. MCG Cheers for Sachin Tendulkar and boos N Srinivasan at ICC Cricket World Cup Final Presentation Ceremony.
However, it was ICC Chairman N Srinivasan, who handed the trophy to Michael Clarke, after all the individual accolades were distributed. Generally it is the president of the world body who does the honours but the former BCCI President took the onus on himself following Kamal’s comments in the quarterfinal. The Bangladeshi administrator was thought to have left the stadium before the final concluded.
Kamal had earlier commented on the quarterfinal between India and Bangladesh post the latter’s defeat against the then defending champions. He alleged of ‘umpiring bias’ in favour of MS Dhoni’s side when Rubel Hossain’s delivery to Rohit Sharma was adjudged as a no ball while the Indian opener was dismissed.
This fumed Srinivasan, who raised concerns at an informal ICC meeting held on the eve of the final, where decision to prevent Kamal from handing over the trophy to the winning captain was made. The 67-year-old is now believed to be insistent on taking legal action against the members. ICC President Mustafa Kamal left MCG before Cricket World Cup Final concluded.
“I will go back to Bangladesh, consult with my lawyers and will also have a word with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about this. This is unconstitutional and can’t be accepted,” Kamal is quoted as saying by ABP News. ABP News. Kamal, reportedly didn’t sit in the ICC Hospitality Box and after talking to elite group of people in Bangladesh government (he is a union minister also), Kamal decided to leave the venue as he felt that it was an insult to his position.
The ICC constitution states that head of the body will hand out the trophy but since the position of chairman has been created, there is some amount of confusion as to who is the head of the world cricket’s governing body. The president is the ceremonial head while executive powers lie with the chairman. However till 1996, the World Cup has been handed by various people and not necessarily the head of ICC. Kamal has another three months left in ICC. (With inputs from PTI)
