‘They almost dictate now’ – Imran Khan calls BCCI ‘arrogant’ as he perpetuates BCCI-PCB tussle

Imran Khan. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Amidst the ongoing tussle between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), former Pakistan all-rounder and the ex-Prime Minister of the country, Imran Khan has lashed out at the BCCI for being ‘arrogant’ and ‘dictating’ the terms of world cricket.

Khan, in his conversation with Times Radio, cited the ability of the BCCI to generate ‘a lot of funds’ as one of the main reasons behind the arrogance as he went on to say that the board had been acting like a ‘superpower’ in the cricket world. He further said that India dictated the terms of world cricket including whom they should play against and whom they shouldn’t.

“It is a sad and unfortunate affair, the relationship between Pakistan and India. There is a lot of arrogance in the way India now behaves in the cricketing world as a superpower. Because of their ability to generate a lot of funds, more than any other country, I think they almost dictate now as a sort of the arrogance of a super power of who they should play and who they shouldn’t,” Khan was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.

Notably, the BCCI and the PCB have been following up on each other in connection with the issue of the conflict over venue regarding the Asia Cup and the World Cup, the two mega tournaments which are scheduled to be hosted later this year by Pakistan and India, respectively. While BCCI had earlier declared that it won’t let Indian cricketers travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the PCB hit back by saying that it would then pull out from the ICC World Cup as well.

Pakistan shouldn’t worry if India doesn’t allow them to play IPL, says Khan

Khan also spoke about India’s decision to not let Pakistani players participate in the IPL. He further consoled his countrymen by asking them not to worry as Pakistan itself housed a lot of quality young cricketers.

“I find it strange that the Indian cricket board should take it out on the Pakistan cricket players [by not allowing them to feature in the IPL] and it just reeks of arrogance,” he said.

“If India doesn’t allow Pakistan to play IPL then Pakistan should not worry about it because Pakistan itself has quality young cricketers,” he further added.