In a move that has left both CAB and the BCCI red-faced, CAB vice-president Indranath Dey’s club Howrah Union has tied up with the ICL and its backer Zee. The deal, which has already been finalised between Zee and the CAB vice-president’s club, will see Howrah Union club’s football team being taken over by the ICL this season.

The announcement of the deal was made at a gala city function by Bollywood star Mithun Chakraborty, who owns the cricket team of the ICL’s Bengal wing — the Royal Bengal Tigers.

The BCCI rulebook clearly states that all affiliated units and clubs of state associations under the board’s jurisdiction should strictly have no connections with the ICL, and any violation of the rule could result in serious action.

Today’s development is expected to snowball into an election issue in the upcoming July 20 state association polls.

Dey is contesting for the incumbent panel for the July 29 elections against a resurgentJagmohan Dalmiya group.

CAB joint-secretary Samar Paul, defending the vice-president’s audacious move, told The Indian Express: “The BCCI rule states that any state association should take strict action against any affiliated club that has ICL connections. But in this case, Howrah Union’s football team is going to be run by the ICL and Zee. There’s no cricket connection. ”

The board, too, isn’t amused, but wants CAB to have the final say. Says BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah: “We can’t keep track of what’s going on at the club level in every state. Let’s see what the CAB has to say. But from our side the rule is very clear.”