Dalmiya says Azhar is not BCCI's business

The Board of Control for Cricket in India chose not to respond to remarks made by Ehsan Mani, the ICC president, over the presence of Mohammad Azharuddin as a commentator at the Asia Cup. A report from Indo Asian News Service quoted Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI president, as saying, "The Sri Lankan board granted him accreditation. It was not routed through us. It is none of our business."

Azharuddin has been giving his views to the Aaj Tak news channel, and Mani had earlier expressed his "disappointment" about his presence in the media enclosure, saying, "Azharuddin should not be involved in international cricket (in any manner)." Dalmiya, though, said it had nothing to do with him, or the Indian board. "There was no request to us for accreditation and none was granted."

Dalmiya came out with his statement after both Mani and Malcolm Speed, the ICC's chief executive, had raised the issue in a meeting on Sunday. And Mani had responded to a media query afterwards by saying that the BCCI shared his concerns.

Dalmiya, however, brushed aside Kapil Dev's suggestion that the ban on Azharuddin should be lifted. "You tell me what we should do," he said. "The case is in court and even speaking about it could be sub judice but I am still speaking to you about it."