Essel Group chairman Subhash Chandra today issued a media statement saying the ongoing battle between the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Cricket League (ICL), a parallel body Chandra formed to promote cricketing talent, would not dent his relationship with BCCI chief and union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar.He further added that he has known Pawar for over 20 years and has been in touch with him ever since he launched the ICL and as recent as yesterday."Both of us understand that the ongoing standoff is between the BCCI, a collective body of 30 odd associations and their representatives, and Essel Sports, Chandra's company managing ICL. Each organisation is free to pursue its own interests as it sees fit and is doing exactly that. Therefore, the decision of BCCI not to collaborate with the ICL is a joint decision of the collective BCCI members rather than that of any individual," said Chandra.The statement, issued to Chandra's "colleagues and friends in the media", said: "I have been travelling overseas for the past couple of weeks and I have noticed the media reports regarding ICL. It seems to me that in a span of few recent weeks the ongoing standoff between the BCCI and the ICL is being painted as a personal tussle between myself and Sharad Pawar. Numerous media stories are portraying this issue to be an ego clash and/or personal rivalry between us." Recently, ICL roped in 51 cricketers to play for the league starting in November. BCCI has banned ICL-associated cricketers from playing in domestic as well as international tournaments organised by it and/or holding any BCCI office.
