Mustafa Kamal resigns as ICC president in World Cup dispute

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Mustafa Kamal resigned as ICC president on Wednesday, accusing India of influencing the outcome of the Cricket World Cup quarterfinal against Bangladesh.

"Everyone saw what happened during the Bangladesh-India match ... India has influenced the outcome of the match using its position (in the ICC)," Kamal, a Bangladeshi, said at the airport on his return from the tournament in Australia.

"From now on, I am a former president of the ICC. I would have reacted similarly had it happened to any other country."

Kamal, a former president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board and now a government minister, criticized the umpires in the quarterfinal, and questioned their partiality, over a disputed no-ball against India batsman Rohit Sharma.

Kamal said he spoke as a fan, and not the president, but International Cricket Council chief executive Dave Richardson termed the criticism as "unfortunate," and said the umpires were beyond question.

Kamal also said the ICC asked him to either withdraw his statement or apologize for his outburst, otherwise he would be denied the duty of handing the World Cup trophy to the winning captain at the final.

"I told them during the meeting that I did not speak against any particular person or a country. Why should I apologize?," Kamal said.

"I am the president of the ICC, to whom would I seek apology?"

ICC chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan, of India, handed over the trophy to captain Michael Clarke after Australia defeated New Zealand by seven wickets in Sunday's final in Melbourne.