ICC annual conference: Decision on rotational policy deferred

PCB’s rigid stance forces ICC to put off matter till October.

KARACHI:

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has deferred the decision of a possible change in the current rotational policy of appointing the body’s presidents following the Executive Board meeting that ended in Hong Kong yesterday.

The deferment comes after a rigid stance by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), firmly against the proposal. The idea of doing away with the rotational policy was to affect Pakistan and Bangladesh — next in line for the ICC presidencies.

According to details, the Executive Board has now decided to discuss it in October and will not take up the matter in the Full Council meeting today. However, the PCB and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have agreed not to nominate a candidate till a review of the governance structure.

Reasons of deferment

While both Pakistan and Bangladesh opposed the proposal, the deferment comes as a success to the PCB, an official told The Express Tribune.

“The PCB was well prepared on its stance,” said the official. “It threatened legal action that prompted the ICC to defer the proposal.

“The ICC is an organisation, which cannot hurt the interest of even a single member board.”

Bangladesh, however, objected on grounds that the change should come into effect after completion of a full cycle of the current policy that will end with their turn alongside Pakistan.

‘Sri Lanka played vital role’

Apart from both the Full Members, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) also played an important role in the issue, according to the official.

“The SLC favoured the deferment, which was also important. They wanted further discussion.”

PCB requests to stage ICC event in 2018

Meanwhile, Pakistan, which is yet to host an international series since a gun attack on the Sri Lankan team in March 2009, have requested to stage an ICC event in 2018.

The ICC, however, has not made any promises since it was yet to finalise events for the year.

“We fully understand the PCB’s request and we will consider if it is possible to host an event in Pakistan, subject to the standard safety and security clearances,” said Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Task Team (PTT) presented a comprehensive report comprising 63 recommendations covering key areas of governance, cricket administration, playing structure, financial viability and communications.

The PTT includes Giles Clarke (chairman), Mike Brearley, Peter Chingoka, Lorgat, Ranjan Madugalle, Ramiz Raja and David Richardson (ICC general manager cricket).

“The report was adopted unanimously and I am pleased that the PCB will consider this report at its next board meeting,” said Lorgat.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2011.