By Avishek Roy, IANS
New Delhi : Shane Bond was bowling fast and furious till one day the Kiwis’ wings were clipped by power-hungry cricket administrators after he decided to join the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).
The fiery Bond Sunday minced no words in slamming the International Cricket Council (ICC) for his fate, saying that the world body is following the diktat of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Bond’s joining the rebel ICL sounded the death knell for his international career as New Zealand Cricket Board disowned him, leaving the express-fast bowler disillusioned.
“In every sport – hockey, rugby, football – there is an international body which looks after it. At the moment, the ICC is not running the game. They are being pushed around by the BCCI. The BCCI has the clout and they are using it,” Bond told IANS Sunday.
Bond would have been spitting fire against England in the home series starting this week, but here he is in India among his old mates and domestic cricketers preparing for the Twenty20 competition of the ICL, where he will be representing Delhi Jets.
A fit Bond is an asset that nobody knows better than New Zealand Cricket but the powers that be robbed them of their strike force.
“I am disappointed. All the players who are facing ban from their domestic boards are disappointed. We love the game and we are just playing cricket. Why ban us?” Bond asked on the sidelines of the practice session of the ICL.
“I joined the ICL because it was a great offer and a great opportunity. The (New Zealand Cricket) board did not have any objection that time. But now my contract has been terminated,” says 32-year old Bond who has taken 79 wickets in 17 Tests at an average of 22.39.
Bond, perhaps, did the mistake of jumping the ICL bandwagon too soon. The IPL came next but a breach of contract would have put him in a situation that Mohammed Yousuf is facing now.
Bond is unsure of his county career in Hampshire after England and Wales Cricket Board said that rebel players will be allowed to play if they get a ‘No Objection certificate’ from their respective boards.
“I signed with Hampshire but I don’t know what will happen to that now. I am not going to get clearance from my board,” he said.
Bond says that the ICC can find a way to resolve the issue and allow youngsters to play the game.
“ICL and IPL are good for the game. The youngsters will learn a lot. But banning is not the right thing. The only thing that should be watched is that money should flow back into the game.”
“The domestic boards should get some money to improve the grassroot level. These things should be worked out by the ICC. Taking a tough stand will not help,” he said.
Bond can at least draw solace from the fact that there his old mates are also playing in the ICL. Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris and Craig McMillan, batsman Hamish Marshall and bowler Daryl Tuffey took part in the recent breakaway Twenty20 league.
“I am excited and looking forward to play in this league,” Bond said as he went for the practice at the non-descript ground in Gurgaon-Faridabad highway.