KOLKATA: Expressing his disgust at the hue and cry raised over columns written by ICC Cricket Committee Chairman Sunil Gavaskar, legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev has said the BCCI should have backed the former Indian opener. Hinting that players from the sub-continent had always been at the receiving end from ICC, Kapil said,

"This is nothing new. But what wrong has Gavaskar committed? He has been writing columns for quite a long time".

"The BCCI should have backed him, considering his contribution to Indian cricket. But the Board never stands by the players once they retire," Kapil said on the sidelines of a media conference here. Against the backdrop of reports that he has been removed by ICC as committee chairman, Gavaskar met the world cricket body's Chief Executive Malcolm Speed in Dubai.

The meeting followed discussions by the ICC Board on the potential for a conflict of interests for a person chairing the cricket committee and at the same time working as a TV commentator. During India's recent Australia tour, Gavaskar had scathingly criticized the hosts' on-field behavior and the handling of Sydney racism row by match referee Mike Procter.

Asked to comment on the charge sheet filed against former BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya and his arrest in Mumbai, Kapil said "I do not know the details of the charge or their legal implication. But nobody can overlook Dalmiya's contribution to cricket and to Indian cricket in particular". India's only World Cup winning captain said he was not bothered whether the BCCI feted him on the silver jubilee of the great feat.

"Its up to the Board, I am not bothered," he said. Kapil appealed to the Board not to push the country backwards in cricket. "I am sure, some of these boys now doing duty in the ICL will one day serve the country. BCCI should not block them".

"IPL doesn't own India. If tomorrow, Sourav Ganguly joins ICL, will the Board bar him from playing for India? The best players should be allowed to play for the country," he said. At the media meet, ICL formally announced its alliance with Mithun, who would own the Kolkata Tigers team. Mithun announced that the team would be rechristened Royal Bengal Tigers.

The actor said once the ongoing limited over tournament was over, he would sit with the ICL bosses and finalize the recruitment of new players and other details. "I have always been a fighter. I had to fight my way up in Bollywood. Cricket is a new ground for me. I will be preset at the ground to cheer my team," Mithun said, to drive home the point that he was taking his new role with all sincerity. Asked why he did not jump into the ICL bandwagon earlier, Mithun said "I am a strategist.

I was observing. Now I am confident about my role. So, I am here". The actor said he was also planning to involve himself in soccer with the support of Zee. "Even before I joined ICL, I told Zee, about my interest in soccer. And they have given their word that they will get me involved in football".