Kapil happy to be back into BCCI fold, but says his comeback not an act to get ‘amnesty from the Indian board

Former India captain Kapil Dev and the Indian cricket board buried the hatchet following their differences over the cricketer joining rebel ICL and welcomed him back with immediate effect disbursing his one-time benefit payment of Rs 1.5 crore, says a report in the TOI.

The BCCI issued a media release, moments after the 1983 World Cup winning captain met president N Srinivasan at the board's headquarters on Wednesday.

"The BCCI has received a letter from Mr. Kapil Dev, former India captain. Mr. Kapil Dev has informed the Board that he has resigned from the Essel Sports Private Limited / ICL. He has also stated in the letter that he has always supported the BCCI, and will continue to do so in the future. The BCCI acknowledges Mr Kapil Dev's immense contribution to Indian cricket and looks forward to a fruitful association with him in the years to come," Srinivasan was quoted as saying by the release.

"The BCCI will now release the one-time benefit of Rs 1.5 crore for Kapil (for playing more than 100 Tests) and he will again be eligible for monthly gratis of Rs 35,000 from the board. His gratis arrears for the last five years will also be cleared with immediate effect," a senior BCCI official said.

Meanwhile according to other media reports though Kapil Dev is certainly a relieved man after being back into the BCCI fold but the legendary all-rounder still has reservations if one terms his comeback as an act to get ‘amnesty from the BCCI’. “I never understood whether the word amnesty is correct or not. May be I am not very intelligent but I checked the dictionary to find the meaning,” said Kapil with a tinge of sarcasm on the sidelines of function.

People had associated the word ‘rebel’ with Indian Cricket League but the 53-year-old said his stint at the unsanctioned league had been a learning experience. “Whatever people might think, personally I have learnt a lot. Now I feel more experienced and confident about taking up any responsibility that I am entrusted with,” the former India captain said.