Speed may broker ‘peace’ deal: Ball tampering

LONDON: International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed was said to be on his way to London to help broker a deal that could keep Pakistan's tour of England on track after the fall-out from last week's ball-tampering controversy at The Oval.

"We have an indication from our lawyers that they have information Malcolm Speed is likely to be coming," said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan at the team's London hotel after meetings ended with no definitive statement about whether the upcoming one-day series against England would go ahead as planned.

Officials from both boards met before Pakistan's players held a meeting amongst themselves as all considered the ball-tampering impasse which cut short last weekend's fourth and final Test.

Pakistan had threatened to boycott the five-match one-day series if captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was banned as a result of charges of ball-tampering and bringing cricket into disrepute following their forfeiture of the fourth Test against England at The Oval.

A disciplinary hearing was due to take place on Friday in London but was postponed on Wednesday because of the unavailability of International Cricket Council (ICC) chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle, who had been due to hear the case.

In a statement Speed said the fact that the one-dayers were taking place from August 30 to September 10 meant it
would be "extremely difficult" for a hearing to take place during that period.

Later in the day England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman David Morgan met with Pakistan counterpart Shaharyar and Inzamam for more than 30 minutes.