Wellington: Kiwi cricket association chief Heath Mills is baffled by BCCI's decision not to allow Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik to play in the NZPCA-ACA Masters T20 match because it features Hamish Marshall who had a contract with the rebel Indian Cricket League.
Mills, CEO of the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association, said it was a silly decision by the Indian board not to allow the duo to play the match. Continue reading below
"We are surprised. Both teams were excited with the possibility of playing with two of the Indian players, Sachin and Dinesh. It would have been great for our game.
"Some of the bowlers were young (from the U-19 level) and looking forward to bowling to one of the greatest players (Sachin) to have played the game.
"We are really disappointed. The fans would have liked to see those two players in action in this country," said Mills.
Mills said he heard about the Indian board's decision this morning.
"I heard about it this morning at 8. Obviously during the week we had made the offer to the management and were happy to include two Indian players in the side to give them a hit in the middle. The team management seemed really keen with the idea and yesterday they confirmed two players would play and that they were allowed to do that.
"Then, we woke up this morning with news that the BCCI did not want the two Indians to play in the match because Hamish Marshall was playing. As you would know, Marshall was an ICL player. However, his contract finished with the ICL last year so we did not think there would be any problem," said Mills. Mills said he was disappointed with the BCCI's decision.
"To be honest we are really disappointed with the position of the BCCI. I understand the situation with the ICL, but given Hamish is no longer a player with ICL, cricket's the loser on this day.
"The fans as well as the players were looking forward to this game and obviously everyone misses out. It just seems a bit silly to me," Mills said.
"When I learnt about the BCCI's decision from Justin Vaughan, the CEO of New Zealand Cricket, I went back and tried to find a solution by explaining that Hamish is no longer an ICL player and we want him to play (in the match).
"I was hoping for a change in their position. But I understand I would have to speak to the right people in Mumbai and so we had to run with their decision last night," he added.
Mills said he had spoken to Gary Kirsten and knew that the Indian duo were really keen to play the game.
