Former England spinner Monty Panesar has pulled out of the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) 2021, citing “political pressure” and “advice” from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), stating that each cricketer who participates in the Kashmir tournament wouldn’t be allowed to play in India within the future, it emerged on Monday.
Talking to YouTube channel Sports Yaari, Panesar said the BCCI had “advised,” him that if he played in KPL 2021, the “consequences” of his decision could include not being granted a visa to India within the future and not being allowed to figure within the country.
“[It is] the beginning of my sports journalist career, I would like to try to broadcast and commentary everywhere the planet. Whatever opportunity or work i buy in India, i would like to try to do that. I cannot jeopardize it,” the spinner said, adding that he could “face difficulty” after taking such an enormous decision.
Cricket is “very big” in India and therefore the country features a “strong” cricket board — BCCI — alongside tons of opportunities, Panesar said, while terming participation within the KPL “too risky a decision” for him.
He also addressed the matter on Twitter, saying he had decided to not participate in the tournament due to the “political tensions between India and Pakistan over Kashmir issues”.
https://twitter.com/MontyPanesar/status/1421901772252237828
“I don’t need to be within the middle of this, it might make me feel uncomfortable,” he added.
Shoaib Akhtar to be KPL ‘peace ambassador’
Meanwhile, former fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar announced his decision to become a “peace ambassador” for the Kashmir tournament.
“Why such a fuss between [Kashmir Premier League] & BCCI. It’s about building bridges and promoting peace,” he said.
https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1422084357909585920
Gibbs’ allegations and BCCI’s response
Panesar’s decision to tug out surfaced days after another international cricketer — South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs — accused the BCCI of attempting to stop him from participating within the inaugural KPL. He added that the BCCI had also threatened of denying him entry in India if he participated within the league.
“Completely unnecessary of the BCCI to bring their political agenda with Pakistan into the equation and trying to stop me [from] playing within the KPL,” the Proteas great said. “[They are] also threatening me saying they will not allow me entry into India for any cricket-related work. Ludicrous,” he tweeted.
Reacting to the event, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a press release, saying it might “raise this matter at the acceptable ICC (International Cricket Council) forum and also reserves the proper to require any longer action that’s available to us within the ICC charter”.
https://twitter.com/hershybru/status/1421283813171384320
The PCB expressed the assumption that the BCCI had “breached international norms and therefore the spirit of the gentleman’s game” through its interference within the internal affairs of ICC members.
Later on Saturday, the BCCI skilled Gibbs’ allegations and therefore the PCB, saying that the Indian board was “well within its rights” to try to do anything within the best interest of its cricketing ecosystem.
A BCCI official told Indian press agency ANI: “While one can neither confirm nor deny the veracity of the statement made by a former player who has figured during a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) investigation into match-fixing earlier, the PCB must understand that albeit Gibb’s statement is assumed to be true, the BCCI would be within their rights to require decisions with reference to the cricketing ecosystem in India.
“The incontrovertible fact that the Indian cricketing ecosystem is that the most wanted for cricketing opportunities globally, shouldn’t be envied by the PCB.”
Read More: ‘Well within our rights’: BCCI on claim that it’s threatening Kashmir league
The BCCI official said the PCB was “confused” which allowing or disallowing anyone from playing cricket in India was “purely an indoor matter” and no different than the restriction on Pakistani-origin players from participating within the Indian Premier League.
The Kashmir Premier League T20 2021 is that the first edition of the KPL. Of the six teams playing within the inaugural season, five teams are from Azad Kashmir while the sixth one is from outside the region.
The league is that the second T20 competition arranged by the PCB after the Pakistan Super League and is about to play from August 6-17 in Muzaffarabad.
