Harbhajan ban likely to be discussed at ICC meeting

DUBAI: Indian Cricket Board President Sharad Pawar, who is attending the ICC Executive Board meeting starting on Monday, is likely to take the opportunity to express BCCI's resentment over the ban slapped on Harbhajan Singh for alleged racial abuse.

The ICC meeting has been convened to choose a successor to CEO Malcolm Speed.

Pawar is expected to discuss the controversial ban on Harbhajan, who was banned for three Tests for alleged racial abuse against Australian Andrew Symonds in the Sydney Test.

However, an ICC spokesman told PTI that the date of the meeting was finalised before the controversy-marred Test and all the developments regarding umpiring and the ban were not part of the agenda.

"The meeting will only discuss all matters related to the new CEO," he said, adding that the process is an ongoing one and a decision on the new Chief Executive may not be decided at this meeting.

But a source said, the Harbhajan issue as well as concerns related to poor umpiring during the Sydney Test are likely to figure in the meeting.

Apart from Pawar, ICC President Ray Mali, outgoing CEO Malcolm Speed and the Chairman of England and Wales Cricket Board David Morgan are attending the meeting.

All these officials are members of a committee to finalise the process and shortlist the nominations for selecting the new CEO. It will also update the ICC's Executive Board when it meets in March in Dhaka.

Current CEO Speed will relinquish office after the ICC's Annual Conference at Lord's in June.