By IANS,
Sydney : Former Australian paceman Jason Gillespie Sunday accused Cricket Australia (CA) of neglecting its best players in order to appease the Indian cricket board.
“They (CA) are far too worried about the ramifications of not being nice to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), that’s all they’re worried about and it’s a joke,” Gillespie, who was banned by the CA after he signed a three-year deal with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), was quoted as saying in Daily Telegraph.
“Unfortunately, they (CA) will side with (India’s) board rather than support players like ‘Kasper’ (Michael Kasprowicz) and myself, who have played for our country for many years. They’ve basically said ‘no, we don’t want you’. Cricket Australia are only concerned about their relationship with the BCCI.”
Gillespie also said that BCCI and Lalit Modi will destroy the fabric of the global game.
“He (Modi) said (the IPL) would not affect the future tours program, but clearly it has. Sri Lanka has cancelled its Test tour to England (next year as it co-incided with the IPL). The Australia-South Africa Test was moved a week (to December 17) for Modi’s Champions League.”
Gillespie also warned that the Test cricket is at its fag end and, barring in Australia and England, is not likely to find patrons in the future.
“Test cricket is in trouble, there’s no doubt about that,” said Gillespie on his return after playing in the ICL.
“I can see a time where countries will be bypassing Test cricket altogether. With more Twenty20 leagues, it will go the way where representing your country will take a back seat. For Australian and English players it will always be the pinnacle, but I’m not sure it’s the pinnacle for any other countries,” he said.
In our contracts it clearly states that if you are asked by your state or country to play that form of cricket, ICL will not stand in your way.
“The problem is the BCCI have come out and said they’re upset and won’t allow it.”