Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga has lashed out at the International Cricket Council (ICC) for dancing to the tune of a few powerful individuals in the Indian cricket board (BCCI) who are ruining the sport.
In the wake of revelations by a former BCCI chief I.S. Bindra that Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) were arm-twisted into withdrawing an adverse report during the team's 2010 tour of the island nation, Ranatunga says India exerted undue influence because of its financial clout.
"Not only the SLC but the ICC as well is under the thumb of India," Ranatunga was quoted in a Sri Lankan daily.
"Where the SLC got it wrong was it tried to run cricket like a business since 2009. As a result, they bow down to BCCI and it is high time it took a long hard look in the mirror," said Sri Lanka's World Cup winning captain.
SLC issued a denial of the allegations chronicled in Bindra's website which added controversy to the raging IPL spot-fixing saga which which has rocked the cricket establishment in India.
"Today, Indian cricket is stinking because of some questionable elements," said Ranatunga who has been a vocal critic of the IPL since its launch six years ago.
"If you analyse the situation properly, through the IPL, the franchises are earning big money, but the game is suffering," Ranatunga said.
This is not the first time SLC’s subversion to BCCI has been exposed. A few weeks ago, it was revealed that Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews was pressured to vote to safeguard India’s interest when international captains had to express their nominations for the ICC Cricket Committee, according to The Island newspaper.
"A few individuals on the Indian Board decide how cricket should be played and governed beyond India," said Ranatunga who urged the ICC to step in and protect the sanctity of the game.
BCCI chief N Srinivasan bowing to all-round pressure was forced to step aside after his son-in-law and Chennai Super Kings team principal Gurunath Meiyappan was arrested in connection with the ongoing IPL scandal.
Three other players including Indian Test paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth have also been arrested over allegations.
"The ICC has to put its foot down. Its priority should be protecting the interest of cricket and certainly not the interests of certain individuals of the Indian board," said Ranatunga who is an opposition member in Sri Lanka's parliament.