Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Put cricket before cash, Greig tells India

Updated at 11:59 am on 27 June 2012

The former England cricket captain and now commentator Tony Greig has urged India to put the spirit of the game ahead of generating billions of dollars.

India is cricket's economic powerhouse and the Board of Control for Cricket in India also oversees the lucrative Twenty20 Indian Premier League franchise tournament.

However, many observers believe the BCCI has used its huge influence for its own interests rather than those of the global game.

While delivering a lecture at Lords Greig said much of the game is controlled by the BCCI because it controls enough votes to block any proposal put forward at the ICC board meetings.

Greig said India could solve most of the sport's existing problems if it has the interests of world cricket at heart, not just India.

He said the BCCI's financial focus had led to a lopsided international calendar which has resulted in Test cricket suffering.

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