During a press event to introduce the Tata Motors’ Harrier as an official partner of the IPL, Choudhary avoided the question regarding whether Pakistan should have been explicitly named, stating again that he didn't write the letter. The correspondence was drafted by BCCI CEO Rahul Johri after consulting with the Committee of Administrators (CoA). This action followed the brutal Pulwama attack, where more than 40 CRPF personnel were killed in a strike claimed by the Pakistan-based outfit Jaish-E-Mohammed.
“ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar has addressed the matter, but he believes this situation lies outside the ICC's remit,” Choudhary explained. He further clarified that there is no internal disagreement within the BCCI, adding, “I want to be clear that we are on the same page. The BCCI CEO handled the correspondence with the ICC, and that letter focused on two primary points—the first being the safety and well-being of the players and the spectators,” responding to queries about whether the BCCI had made a tactical error in its request.
Detailing the contents of the letter, Choudhary emphasized that the BCCI's top priority ahead of the World Cup is the security of the athletes. “The second point suggested that India and other ICC members should avoid engaging with teams from nations that promote terrorism, although the letter did not specifically name any particular country,” he noted.
“In response, the ICC Chairman, after consulting with the Board—the primary decision-making body of the ICC—stated that it is not within their power to comment or make a ruling on this. As I mentioned, the BCCI's core concerns were the safety of players and fans, which the ICC has fully agreed to prioritize. Colin Grave, representing the ECB, shared a similar perspective,” Choudhary added. He also noted that resolving the ongoing dispute between the BCCI and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is now a critical priority to prevent the ICC from being labeled non-compliant.
The acting secretary highlighted that settling the rift with the World Anti-Doping Agency is urgent to ensure the ICC maintains its compliant status. “This is a significant issue. WADA has been in discussions with the ICC for a while, and the requirement is that every ICC member nation must align with their national testing agency.”
“The BCCI is currently the only ICC member resisting this for specific reasons, which has created some urgency. The ICC is aware, and the Chairman intends to speak with the BCCI soon to resolve this, as the risk of the ICC being declared non-compliant is too high,” he said. He also mentioned that selectors are currently finalizing the schedules for key Indian ODI players for the World Cup, which follows the IPL starting May 30. When asked if the IPL organizers had agreed to these plans, he replied, “It’s too early to reveal details, but the selectors are handling it.”
He also noted that discussions regarding shifting the IPL match timings are still underway. IPL CEO Hemang Amin explained that they are evaluating the options. “Last year, we moved the play-off starts to 7 pm. We are debating whether to move the times further or keep them at 8 pm, as this also affects the afternoon games. Over the last few years, we've had 12 to 15 day matches, so it's a factor. We have to prioritize player wellness; if we move the 8 pm game earlier, the afternoon game must also be shifted. We hope to announce the final schedule within a week,” Amin stated.