JOHANNESBURG, July 22: Former International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat said on Monday he was ‘saddened’ by what he called his ‘poor relationship’ with India's board, a situation that led to the powerful BCCI even expressing its opposition to him leading South African cricket.

Despite India's concerns, Lorgat was appointed Cricket South Africa (CSA)’s new chief executive officer on Saturday, with CSA deciding its own issues took priority over the wishes of the most influential country in the game.

“We will take decisions guided by what the interests of CSA are,” CSA President Chris Nenzani said at a news conference on Monday to welcome Lorgat to the role.

Lorgat also dealt with a barrage of questions at Wanderers Stadium on his problems with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and conceded: “I didn't expect such a poor relationship to have emanated after I left the ICC.”

The South African former head of the ICC said he was still not completely sure what the BCCI's problems with him were, but he wanted to smooth them over.

He said an ICC ethics officer had cleared him of any wrongdoing relating to working outside his remit at the world body, but didn't elaborate further.

“It's probably right for me not to speak much on this subject except for me to say I was particularly saddened,” Lorgat said. “I will do my level best to understand what the issues are with those who are not happy. If I need to sit across the table, go to India, whatever it takes. If it means that I have wronged somebody and I need to apologise ... I will do so. I will have no hesitation to do so.”

Nenzani confirmed that the BCCI initially did not want Lorgat appointed, as has been widely reported in South Africa and India over the last few months. India's ‘concerns’ over Lorgat were expressed in a meeting between the BCCI and CSA officials as far back as February, Nenzani said, when Lorgat, South Africa's former head selector, became a leading candidate to return to his home country as chief executive.

“We had an opportunity to talk to the Indian president, the president of the BCCI. They raised certain concerns about the possible appointment of Lorgat as our CEO,” Nenzani said of the February meeting. “We made it clear to them, we said we would not undermine your concerns, we would not ignore your concerns, but we will be in a position to look into this matter and see how best the interests of CSA are addressed.”

The ultimate decision to go against India — cricket's undoubted dominant force — may have been influenced by a perceived shift in power at the BCCI as much as by South Africa's own pressing need for experienced leadership.

Since the February meeting, BCCI President Narainswamy Srinivasan has agreed to temporarily step aside while his son-in-law is investigated for alleged involvement in Indian cricket's spot-fixing scandal.—AP