LONDON, Nov 25: The International Cricket Council (ICC) says it will win its power struggle with India and could even suspend its national cricket board if they continue to defy the sport’s world governing body, according to the Sunday Times.

The newspaper said ICC president Malcolm Gray suggested he would not allow India board chief Jagmohan Dalmiya to continue challenging his authority.

“We have the power to expel a member country. It is in our articles of association and is the only power available to us in disciplinary terms,” Gray was quoted as saying.

The controversy began when six Indian players were censured by ICC-appointed match referee Mike Denness in the second test against South Africa.

India, indignant over the decisions, persuaded South Africa to sack Denness for the third and final test against the ICC’s wishes after Dalmiya threatened a match boycott.

The ICC responded by stripping the third and final match of the series of its test status. India has since questioned the legality of that decision.

Gray, however, told the Sunday Times that he was confident he would win the support of the majority of the ICC’s 15-man executive board.

“I have spoken to every director, and all but one supports the ICC stance that a match referee cannot be withdrawn,” he was quoted as saying.

“Even South Africa, who originally supported India in order that the match at Centurion could go ahead, have come round.”

The ICC’s executive board is only due to meet again in March but could be reconvened for an emergency meeting if the stand-off continues.—Reuters