Accusing the ICC of being hypocritical, Punjab Cricket Association president I S Bindra on Saturday said the Board of Control for Cricket in India should revoke punitive action taken against some former Indian players in the wake of match-fixing allegations.
"The Indian Board (BCCI) should revoke all such actions. When other countries swept the issue (of match-fixing allegations against their players) under the carpet, what was ICC doing then?" asks Bindra.
"ICC's behaviour is nothing short of hypocrisy and they have double standards and I agree with (BCCI vice president) Lalit Modi that they are behaving like East India Company," Bindra told a media conference in Mohali.
The BCCI had slapped life bans on former captain Mohammed Azharuddin and allrounder Ajay Sharma besides imposing a five-year suspension on pacer Manoj Prabhakar for their alleged involvement in betting and match-fixing.
Bindra, who is also chairman of Board's Infrastructure Committee for the 2011 World Cup, launched a scathing attack on the ICC when he was asked about the international cricketing body's disapproval of the BCCI decision to invite Azharuddin to an official function next month.
"ICC's disapproval is nothing short of nonsense. It seems that for only India or Pakistan they have different standards. India is the only country in cricketing world which took action (against players facing allegations of match-fixing)...in retrospect, I think we are foolish (that we were the only one to take action)," he said.
Bindra said South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs and Australia's Mark Waugh and Shane Warne too were in the dock, "but ICC doesn't talk about them".
Defending the decision to invite Azharuddin at the opening of the BCCI's new headquarters in Mumbai on November 4, Bindra said, "the Board invites all former captains and there is nothing wrong in that. We have not socially ex-communicated Azhar...this is pure and simple hypocrisy (the ICC's disapproval)".
ICC spokesman Brian Murgatroyd had said that ICC has a zero tolerance policy on corruption and would like its members to have a similar attitude.
Asked whether revoking action against those who faced allegations would not amount to encouraging match-fixing, he stressed there could not be double-standards on the issue.
On the issue of signing the host venue agreement for the Champions Trophy matches being held in PCA stadium here, Bindra said, "We have not signed this agreement so far."
He said certain conditions had been put before the ICC, but regretted that the game's apex body had not given a categorical assurance that it would compensate for the PCA's losses.
Mohali has already hosted the qualifying match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on October 7.
"Since they are going ahead with the tournament, it means they have agreed to our demands (which include compensation for the loss of seats)," he added.
"Our fight is based on principles and PCA will not compromise on this," he said when asked if the state association was heading for a confrontation with the ICC.
