A Daily Telegraph report claimed that India has started an exercise to further strengthen its hold over the International Cricket Council by relocating the ICC headquarter from Dubai to Indian financial capital Mumbai.

The BCCI is expected to expedite its effort for the same after the succession of politically strongman Sharad Pawar as a next President of International Cricket Council in July next year replacing outgoing President David Morgan. The move requires a 7-3 majority of the Test-playing countries, which is not considered as a bird in the bush for India, the powerhouse of the world game.

However, there may be opposition from certain quarters as England and New Zealand never want to house ICC headquarter in Mumbai, as also vindicated by their traditional stance in ICC executive board meetings.

Lord MacLaurin, the former Chairman of the ECB, while opposing any such move, said, "I think it was a tragedy when the ICC left Lord's, the home of cricket. I believe Gordon Brown when Chancellor was ready to make some tax concessions, but it didn't happen.”

The next headquarter may find place near the BCCI office block next to the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai or at Bandra Kurla complex near the airport, according to the report.