New Delhi, Feb 2 Facing allegations of using its financial clout to get a favourable verdict for Harbhajan Singh in the racism row, the BCCI has said that it had not blackmailed anybody and the judgement was that of the ICC.

"Australian media projected that we blackmailed the ICC by using our financial clout. We had not blackmailed ICC or anybody.

"It is a bit funny after the matter was resolved, we have been accused of bulldozing the ICC. We have not issued a threat to pull out of the tour. So, where is the question of blackmailing anybody, leave alone ICC," Pawar told Karan Thapar in 'Devil's Advocate' programme on CNN-IBN.

Pawar said he had only issued a statement that it was difficult to imagine an Indian player charged of racial abuse playing on a cricket field, and said it was not tantamount to issuing a threat.

"I was authorised to take any appropriate decision. I have said it is difficult for the board to digest that an Indian player would be charged of racial abuse and still playing on a cricket filed.

"We did not issue a threat but there was an uneasiness on our part to play cricket in those circumstances. After all, we had to think of the players' concerns also." Pawar said the board will not tolerate any unsporting behaviour by the players and warned them against using abusive language in future.

"I don't think that it is nice for an Indian player to use abusive language. They are ambassadors of the country. They should behave properly. We have told them the board will take serious view of any behaviour unbecoming of an Indian," he said.PTI