KAPIL GETS THE BOOT

They did not bother to talk to me before announcing this. I think they felt it's below their dignity to talk to me. They (BCCI) have been doing this for the last 70 years and I'm afraid, they would continue like this.

As expected, the 1983 World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev was sacked as the National Cricket Academy's chief by the Indian cricket board for his association with the breakaway Indian Cricket League.

The board, at its special general board meeting at the BCCI centre on Tuesday said that anyone including the players aligned with any private association not approved by the parent body, would lose all the benefits they were entitled to.

The decision did not come as surprise as the board had earlier made it clear that anyone who would join the rebel league will be banned from the BCCI.

The Haryana Hurricane was appointed chairman of the ICL's executive committee by the Subhash Chandra-owned Essel Group.

The man to replace Kapil Dev will be Maharashtra Cricket Association president and the current vice-chairman of the National Cricket Academy, Ajay Shirke, who will be acting chairman till the his successor is named at the annual general body on September 28.

Speaking to the media, BCCI treasurer N. Srinivasan said that it was an unanimous decision taken at the SGM including the Railways, who had agreed to give their grounds to the Essel Group for the ICL matches.

"Kapil ceases to be the chairman of the National Cricket Academy," Srinivasan told reporters, waiting for the board's reaction on the former skipper. "The current vice-chairman of NCA, Mr. Ajay Shirke has been made the acting chairman till the next chairman is not announced in the next AGM," he added.

Asked about the players who had signed up to play in the ICL, he said: "Every individual has the right to associate with the BCCI or any other organisation. If he chooses to be part of any other organisation then it is he who is leaving. If an individual chooses to associate with someone else it is his decision and we wish him luck. But he will not be a part of the BCCI activities or derive any benefits from the BCCI," he said.

Srinivasan also said that a player, who disassociated himself from the BCCI and joined the ICL, did not have a choice to join back.