Patna: The Association of Bihar Cricket (ABC), headed by former cricketer Kirti Azad, on Saturday threatened to drag the Indian Cricket Board to the court if its demand for recognition was not met.

The former all-rounder claimed that BCCI's decision to grant membership to Bihar Cricket Association led by Railway minister Lalu Prasad was not in conformity with the Board's stated position that it was ABC which was running cricket in Bihar.

Azad also said the BCCI in its affidavit before the Supreme Court had admitted that cricket in Bihar was being run and controlled by ABC and no other body.

"How the BCCI took a U-turn after swearing an affidavit before the apex court is intriguing. ABC fulfils each and every crtiteria required for recognition and has submitted details to the Board with regard to its cricketing activities in the state," said Azad, who was part of 1983 cricket world cup winning team.

"We retain the option of moving the court, but first we have to wait and see what the Board does in the matter."

Claiming that ABC had become a "victim of UPA's politics biased in favour of Lalu Prasad," he demanded to know from the Railway Minister as to why he was silent after his association secured Associate and not full membership.

"I know Lalu is mum as he does not know the rules of BCCI to put across his views," Azad said, adding that even after being bestowed the status of an associate member, the state's players would not not be entitled to play first class matches.

The issue of associate membership had come up for consideration by the Board way back in 2004 and had it been granted at that time, the state's association could have been able to send its players to participate in first class matches by now now.

The BCCI rules envisage that the issue of according full membership could be considered only after five years of granting associate membership to a state association.

Questioning Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's action of granting associate membership to Bihar just before his exit as Board President, Azad said, "We will fight for full membership to ABC as our talented players would not be able to particpate in Ranji Trophy and national-level tournaments."

With associate membership, a state can at the most organise junior-level cricket events, which ABC had been holding for last several years, he said.

"The issue of full membership will come up for review after five years and one cannot be sure if Bihar will succeed in crossing the hurdle, implying thereby that our cricketers will have to wait for another half decade to play first class matches," the cricketer-turned-politician added.