Even as an ICC member, it is PCB’s fundamental right to participate in all their tournaments, unless the action to suspend them comes from international body itself
Despite not being part of the agenda, International Cricket Council (ICC) took up the issue of Indo-Pak World Cup tie security on the insistence of BCCI during its chief executives committee (CEC) in Dubai on Wednesday.
It was at the start of the meeting that BCCI representative Rahul Johri took up the issue of Indian players’ security and safety during June 16 game in Manchester. In response, ICC CEO David Richardson assured Indian body that “all such issues have been taken care of and if needed the security can even be increased after talks with British authorities”.
It was decided to include all this discussion in the “minutes” to be released later by ICC. DNA has reliably learnt from an insider that Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) representative came fully prepared for this crucial meeting in the wake of calls after the ghastly Pulwama terror attack. PCB chairman Ehsan Mani, MD Wasim Khan and COO Subhan Ahmad are camped in Dubai and held various meetings with other member countries.
Indian concerns were only discussed briefly before proceeding on to the other agendas of the day. “ICC was categorical in letting BCCI know that it would not be possible for any world body to suspend or ban Pakistan on the charges levelled by India board,” an insider told DNA after the meeting.
Even as an ICC member, it is PCB’s fundamental right to participate in all their tournaments, unless the action to suspend them comes from international body itself.
“Look at the Olympic body (IOC), how they have carried on the sports movement all around the world despite various conflicts between countries. Sports has always worked as a healer in the past and will continue to do so in the future,” was the message conveyed to all member representatives. “I don’t think that even if BCCI presses for a vote on this issue that any other member country will side with it. This is simply because any other member nation can tomorrow call for such a vote against any other member in the future. This can set a dangerous trend for the future,” an ICC source said.
When he was reminded of South Africa’s isolation from ICC in the late 1970s till the early 1990s, the official refused to club the two issues.
“During that period, ICC voted to suspend South Africa from international cricket because of its government’s policy of apartheid. Because the team was only supposed to play against the white nations (England, Australia and New Zealand). Now Indo-Pak cricket has nothing of that sort to suggest any kind of action,” said the official.
Doubts over PSL
Meanwhile, PCB has been facing dilemma over hosting the Pakistan Super League games starting March 7 in the aftermath of Pulwama attack. This is more so after hearing the safety concerns from the overseas players. With Lahore in the centre of conflict, PCB is mulling to shift all the games to Karachi. With the war-like situation for last two days, there is hardly any certainty if the foreign players will agree to even play in Karachi.
That leaves PCB with just an option to move the entire PSL to safer country like UAE. A decision in this regard is likely to come soon after consultations with all the stake holders, including Pakistan security agencies.
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