Pak Opposition to ICC Revamp Rages; Open to Resumption of Cricket Series with India

The proposal for the revamp of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has already evoked mixed response, and latest opposition to the plan has just been raised by none other than arch rival and neighbour Pakistan.

The Pakistan Cricket Board chief Zaka Ashraf has come out vehemently opposing BCCI’s dream of a revamp of the International Cricket Council.

Terming the plan for revamp as “neither in line with principle of equity nor in the interest of game of cricket”, the PCB chief is all out against the idea.

After an ICC meeting that was convened by the ICC to discuss and deliberate on the plan to bring in radical changes that would gift the Big Three cricket playing nations, England, Australia and India, with a lion’s share of ICC revenues and more powers to them in the game’s administration, the PCB chairman who was also present at the meeting came out with his opposition to the plan strongly.

Strong Opposition

Going by what the Pakistan board said the PCB chairman would want to request an audience with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who incidentally, is the Patron of PCB, so that he can be “apprised of the matter of immense significance and of national interest which will have wide reaching impact on future of cricket in Pakistan.”

With a press statement noting that the “ICC board members deliberated and expressed serious concerns on the model proposed by BCCI, ECB and CA which was neither in line with principle of equity nor in the interest of game of cricket,” the PCB stance looks like it is strongly going to be opposing the plan.

Calling for a consensus on whatever decision is made at the ICC, the PCB chief also rued the fact that things are being moved in a swift manner.

In this context, it also needs to be noted that soon after the Dubai meeting, the ICC came out with a statement saying that its executive board “unanimously supported” a set of principles that were along the lines of the original proposal, though there were some concessions granted to the members outside the Big Three. But then, the proposals were not voted on in that meeting. That means the next ICC meeting in Singapore on February 8 could take it into consideration.

Resumption of Ties

Meanwhile, even with the opposition raging from Pakistan Cricket Board against the ICC plan, the PCB said it was open to resume the bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan.

It is a known fact that the two nations have been away from competitive cricket for quite a while now. Indo- Pak encounters on the cricket field looks like a thing of the past. Now with an interest being renewed, both the nations can look toward a happy tour soon.

BCCI has also evinced interest in holding a bilateral series. What PCB looks for are some written assurances and firm guarantees that such a bilateral series would happen. Zeroing in on a neutral venue might make things easier for resumption of cricketing ties between the arch rivals.

Strong Opposition

Resumption of Ties

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