Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has lashed out at the BCCI for bullying international cricket with all their might.

Gillespie, who plays for the Ahmedabad Rockets in the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) said that the BCCI's dominating attitude is harming the game.

"They are trying to bully the Indian Cricket League, but that is wrong because the competition is good for cricket. It is helping to expand the sport so for the BCCI to try and get tough on the ICL is misguided," said Gillispie.

Gillespie, who once formed a deadly strike force for Australia with the new ball with the now retired Glen McGrath opined it was the ICL that brought Twenty20 cricket into focus. The latest format of the game has captured the imagination of cricket audiences the world over, cutting across all age groups.

"People seem to forget the ICL was the original Twenty20 League. It is a good competition that is well run and the standard of play is very high," he said.

Gillespie was to appear for Durham but with the BCCI urging counties to ban ICL players, the pacer had no choice but to move to Glamorgan.

"The reason I could not play against Durham was because the BCCI is flexing their muscles at the moment. It is frustrating that all the other countries are bowing to the pressure," stated Gillespie.

However, Gillespie was optimistic the ICL would do well in the future despite the BCCI's firm stand against the rebel league.

"The ICL is not going away and people have to understand that and the cricket community has to reach a resolution," he concluded.