Team India coach Anil Kumble has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that the ongoing tension between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the national cricket board should not rob Virat Kohli and Co. of an opportunity to defend its Champions Trophy title.
The tournament begins on June 1 in England and India won the previous edition in 2013.
According to a report in The Mumbai Mirror, Kumble told the board that the team is looking forward to participate in the event. The board is expected to take the final call on the matter at its special general meeting on May 7.
The news comes a day after the Committee of Administrations (CoA) instructed BCCI to announce the squad for Champions Trophy.
Meanwhile Indian cricket stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid also expressed that India should be allowed to participate.
According to ESPNcricinfo, along with Sachin and Dravid, Zaheer Khan, Gundappa Viswanath, Sandeep Patil, Sanjay Manjrekar, Aakash Chopra, Ajit Agarkar, Venkatesh Prasad, Saba Karim, Murali Kartik, and Deep Dasgupta also want India to play the Champions Trophy.
There has been doubt over India’s participation in the ICC tournament ever since the ICC reduced BCCI’s revenue share from $570 million to $293 million according to international body’s new financial model for world cricket.
The Indian board also missed the April 25 deadline to announce the squad for the tournament.
Feature Image: PTI