Former BCCI president Anurag Thakur on Sunday lashed out at the International Cricket Council, saying it “has no relevance” without the world’s richest board, which used to give the ICC seventy-five percent of grants to run its affairs.

Thakur, a union minister of state for finance and corporate affairs, was in town in connection with the Sansad Mahakumbh prize distribution function.

“The ICC has no relevance without the BCCI as it used to give it seventy-five percent of grants to run its affairs,” said Thakur, who is the brother of newly-appointed BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal.

He also expressed hope that the Sourav Ganguly-led new body of BCCI would take up the issue with the ICC and get its due.

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Thakur said the appointment of Arun as the board’s treasurer is a matter of pride for the state and he was hopeful that his brother would do the job honestly.

Recently, Arun also said that India not having a “say” in the ICC is a major concern for the newly-appointed treasurer. Though Thakur is not directly involved in the board’s affairs anymore, he said he is open to guiding the BCCI on certain matters.