KARACHI, Oct 24: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken a strong objection to the newly-appointed Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman, Ijaz Butt going public about the ICC Executive Board Meeting (EBM) minutes, particularly over the issue of the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Well placed sources in the ICC said that the game’s governing body was unhappy with Ijaz for disclosing before the media about a possible threat the ICC and its member board might face if the ICL decides to sue them for not granting recognition.

Earlier in the month, Ijaz told reporters that in its EBM held recently in Dubai, the ICC had been told by its lawyers that it (ICC) and its member boards could find themselves in trouble if the rebel league decides to take them to court on the issue.

“This basically means that the ICL is now in a stronger position knowing what the ICC lawyers had advised them. It is also noteworthy that soon after Butt’s statement on the ICL became public, the rebel league has been threatening to take legal action against the ICC if it was not accorded recognition,” one source said.

In his address to the media, Ijaz also came in support of the rebel league and said a possible merger between the ICL and the Indian Cricket Board-backed IPL would be beneficial for all concerned parties.

The ICL application for recognition came up for discussion at ICC’s EBM, following which the governing body instructed the BCCI to hold discussions with the rebel league representatives to see if recognition could be granted to them. But initial talks between the BCCI and the ICL representatives have failed to come out with a solution.

After PCB chief’s impromptu disclosure before the media, sources said the ICC had already sent out messages to its Test playing nations, cautioning them to be careful about divulging details of Board and other meetings.

“The ICC to drive home its point has highlighted the disclosures made by Ijaz Butt and pointed out that discussions at executive board meetings were supposed to be confidential and only for the members and not for the public,” one source said.

Meanwhile, Ijaz, in his defence, has claimed that he was not properly briefed about the previous commitments made by the PCB which had put him in a difficult position at the ICC board meeting. However, Naghmi has claimed that he tried to brief the new PCB chairman thrice on the ICC meetings but he was not willing to give proper time and attention to him.—Agencies