New Delhi, Apr 21: The BCCI today described Sri Lanka Cricket's decision to recall its players early from the ongoing IPL as “inappropriate” and said it is in talks with the SLC to sort out the crisis.
“According to us, the Sri Lankan players are here to stay till May 21 as they have promised and the franchises are also under the same impression. But now they want to go early and it is not appropriate,” BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla told reporters.
“Nothing has been decided as yet. The BCCI president is in touch with the Sri Lankan board and some kind of a dialogue is going on between the two boards,” he said.
The crisis started after the Sri Lankan government asked the SLC to direct all its cricketers playing in the IPL to return home by May 5 in order to prepare for the tour of England which starts on May 10.
The controversy surrounding the Lankan players' early return got murkier after the government and the SLC rejected the BCCI's request to allow its star cricketers to play in the lucrative Twenty20 tournament till May 15, a move which could strain the relation between the two Boards.
Some 11 Sri Lankans, including stars such as Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga and newly-appointed national captain Tillakaratne Dilshan are playing for different franchises in the IPL.
If the Sri Lankan players are forced to return early, according to reports, the BCCI may retaliate by asking the franchises to block the players' salaries and also refuse to pay SLC its share of 10 per cent of the players' earnings.
However, Shukla refused to confirm any such move on the BCCI's part, saying, “Talks are already going on between the two boards and let's see what happens.” PTI
