The simmering row within the International Cricket Council took an ugly turn on Monday with its president, Mustafa Kamal, threatening to expose "mischievous" designs of people who denied him the "constitutional right" to hand over the World Cup Trophy.
After Australia beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the Sunday’s final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, it was ICC chairman Narayanswami Srinivasan who presented the trophy to winning captain Michael Clarke.
Kamal is of the view that the ICC's amendment of its rules in January 2015 mandated that the president gives away trophies at global competitions.
"I was supposed to give the trophy. It is my constitutional right. But very unfortunately, I wasn't allowed to do so. My rights were dishonoured. After I go back home, I will let the whole world know what's happening in ICC. I will let the whole world know about those guys who are doing these mischievous things," Kamal told Bangladeshi television channels.
"I don't know why I was not allowed to present the trophy," he said.
According to the amendment in the memorandum and articles of association of the ICC, which was unanimously approved by the Full Council in January 2015, it appeared that the job of presenting trophies at global events rests on the ICC president.
According to clause 3.3 (B): "With effect from the 2014 Conference Close Date, the President shall act solely as chairman at Conference and Special Meetings and be responsible for presenting trophies at global competitions and cricket events held under the aegis of the Council. For the avoidance of doubt, with effect from the 2014 Conference Close Date, the President will no longer act as chairman of the Executive Board or as chairman of any Committee or Sub-Committee."
The ICC president is, however, the ceremonial head while executive powers lie with the chairman.
Till 1996, the World Cup was presented by various people and not necessarily the head of the ICC.
Kamal had made stinging criticism about "umpiring bias" during Bangladesh's quarter-final loss to India in the World Cup.
In that match, India's Rohit Sharma was not given out to a Rubel Hossain delivery which apparently looked a "touch and go" decision.
Kamal insisted that he had not spoken against any country but said he was denied the opportunity of presenting the World Cup trophy for "speaking the truth".
"I commented on poor umpiring and even the ICC issued a press release. I was the president, I am the president and I will remain the president. But I have been robbed of my constitutional rights to speak the truth, to speak for cricket and to stand for cricket," he said.
"I have spoken for ICC and I have not spoken against any country. But as a cricket lover I spoke. That is why I could not give away the trophy," he added.
Kamal had come close to questioning the integrity of the umpires by saying that the ICC should investigate the matter and questioned whether some decisions were "deliberate or not."
A day later, the ICC's chief executive, Dave Richardson, termed Kamal's criticism "unfortunate".
According to reliable sources in the ICC, it was learned that at an ICC meeting in Melbourne on Saturday, Kamal was categorically told that he won't be allowed to hand over the trophy.
It is learnt that Srinivasan is extremely angry after Kamal voiced his concerns about "umpiring bias" in the India-Bangladesh quarter-final.
Kamal had accused India of flexing its muscle, which had led to umpiring bias.
Srinivasan reportedly wasn't one bit amused after hearing Kamal's comments on record. While the former BCCI president did not say anything in public, he did express his displeasure to the board members.
Peeved at the developments, Kamal left the Melbourne Cricket Ground even before the final.
Image: Mustafa Kamal
Photograph: Jack Dabaghian/Getty Images for ICC
