NEW DELHI: As the controversy over Kapil Dev’s omission from the list of IPL beneficiaries raged on, the BCCI on Thursday said it has nothing against the legendary all-rounder and he was ignored for the cash award because of a “technical issue”. While the BCCI made one-time payment to former Indian cricketers from the IPL surplus, Kapil’s omission created a flutter and the Board had surprisingly not given any reason for ignoring the former Indian captain.
Since the BCCI never released the full list of the beneficiaries, there was confusion on whether the former captain’s name figured in it or not. But IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla on Thursday finally put the records straight by saying that Kapil Dev was not eligible for the monetary benefit. “As far as Kapil Dev is concerned, BCCI is not against him. We have not got anything against Kapil but there is a technical issue. He has not accepted the amnesty proposal (by the BCCI). Technically, he is out of this benefit ambit. Otherwise, BCCI has nothing against him,” Shukla said on Thursday.
Asked whether BCCI will consider his name if he seeks amnesty, Shukla said, “It’s a hypothetical question. If he gives it, the BCCI working committee will definitely consider it.”
Kapil, on his part, had left it on the BCCI saying that they are the “boss” and it’s their call to provide him the one-time monetary benefit or not. The 1983-World Cup winning captain was not invited by the BCCI for the functions at the four IPL venues where it honoured former cricketers with cheques for their services to Indian cricket.
Kapil played 131 Tests and 225 One-day internationals for India and is rated among one of the greatest all-rounders to have played the game. He is entitled to get 1.5 crore from the BCCI as per the scheme.
On why some other cricketers like Dilip Vengsarkar, Mohinder Amarnath, Gundappa Vishwnath and Syed Kirmani were not considered for the benefit, Shukla said, “Those who have been already alloted benefit matches, they cannot be part of this scheme. They cannot be given the same advantage again.”
Shukla was unhappy with the negative publicity being given to this scheme merely because some players were not considered. The reason behind giving one-time benefit to players was that not many players were able to hold their benefit matches. (PTI)