KARACHI:
Reacting strongly to the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) plan of seeking a review of the final-over collision in the Asia Cup final, former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani said that the development has spoilt the team’s brilliant show. Needing nine to win in the final over, delivered by Aizaz Cheema, Bangladesh managed just six as Pakistan triumphed to lift the Asia Cup.
However, the BCB showed its discontent and accused Cheema of deliberately blocking Mahmudullah Riyad from coming back for the second run – an incident that happened off the first ball of the over. Enayet Hossain Siraj, chairman of the BCB operations committee, said the board will complain to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and demand five penalty runs for the alleged offence, adding that a copy of the appeal will also be sent to the ICC.
However, Mani who attended the final, lashed out at the BCB for ‘spoiling an exciting cricket match’. “It’s a cheap stunt,” Mani told The Express Tribune. “Such acts are against the spirit of the game.
“In fact, there are no grounds of making such an appeal. It’s the job of the umpires to make such decisions.
“A few wrong decisions were made during the match like the dismissal of Younus [Khan]. Can someone appeal for that now? I don’t feel such appeal will be facilitated and will be useless.”
Mani added that officials in Bangladesh, who won the hearts of many during their spirited show in the tournament, including the final, have spoilt their team’s show.
“Bangladesh spoiled their performance, which is disappointing.”
Mani also stressed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should take a strong stance against the accusation.
PCB disappointed on appeal
Meanwhile, PCB Director Intikhab Alam called Bangladesh’s stance “disappointing”.
“It’s really sad and disappointing to hear the statement from the BCB official,” Alam told AFP. “It was a thrilling final and everyone praised Bangladesh for their fight and their decision to appeal is just an afterthought after the result.”
“The fact is that no match umpire or referee complained about this to the Pakistan management and Bangladesh’s complain will spoil a wonderful final which everyone enjoyed,” said Alam.
PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf refused to comment on the accusations. “ We’ll discuss the matter and then comment if required,” said Ashraf.
Making grounds to shun Pakistan tour: Basit
Meanwhile, former Test cricketer Basit Ali said the BCB was making grounds to avoid a proposed tour of Pakistan. “The appeal doesn’t make sense,” said Basit. “It seems they are making grounds to refuse to tour Pakistan.”
Bangladesh are yet to confirm their tour of Pakistan next month with officials close to the matter suggesting that the BCB was reluctant to send its team despite expressing satisfaction on security arrangements in the country. (with additional input by AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (34)
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@shams, YOUR board does not "trust" PCB?? remind me again, whose board was it that entered into a deal with the PCB to nominate mustafa kamal for the ICC presidency in return for a tour....and after the PCB kept its part of the deal is now rethinking its agreement. oh yes, that was the BCB. and you are trying to tell me that PCB cant be trusted??? what about your own board, that is unable to even keep a promise.
Whats with Ehsan Mani???? to top it he's a former ICC president. Bangladesh is just coming up and the whole nation is in profound emotion.......coming so near and yet so far, they played wonderful cricket.
We all know and realize that their compalints are filed in emotion and dont stand a chance. With all his experience, Ehsan should have just let it pass rather than antagonize with unwanted words.
-Hari
@Pollack Lets not go in to 1971. Bengalies committed enough murders and attrocities to be in same boat as any one ! Mr. Mani is correct. This was a cheap move.
@Sham you do not not "Trust" PCB ? about what buddy ?
I have never seen so much arrogance from a team that is 30-1 v/s Pakistan. Why are people forgetting that Bangladesh has been defeated time and again and every where. 30-1 record in ODI's, 8-0 in Tests is no joke. My point is that Bangladesh may beat Pakistan in one off fixed match but they just can not beat Pakistan on regular basis. This Pakistan team in rebuilding mode is better than them !
Finally, I place blame squarely on Pakistan. It is about time, we start taking every minnow seriously. I understand that we defeated them in every match couple of months ago but that does not mean that we should take them lightly. You take them lightly and they act like they are an equal team.
We should have defeated them comfortable. Rematch may be ?
and all you Bangla supporters, your team did very well and if you come to Pakistan, you will still loose 0-3.
At least, Bengalis will now get a tour of India for sure!
@SaQiB: Did you have respect for Bengalis to begin with? Maybe Bangladesh would have been Pakistan if you and your society had given them respect instead of using racial skin color slurs against them.
OH COMEON get over it!! Bangladesh is not A small brother to Pakistan, Nor should you expect them to behave as such. WE LOST THEM OK, MOVE ON! IF there is something to be sad about it is the lack of sportsmanship by their country. END OF STORY.whether they did it on their own whims or Indian money is besides the point. Stop expecting morality in international affairs ...it does not exist.
Mr. Ahsaan Mani, Yesterday it was Indian betting syndicate you had problem with, today its Bangladesh. What have you thought about Sri Lanka. Come out with that too. It seems only PCB and its players are "Pak -Saaf"
@z shams: Keep your team there. It was never on the cards; just a farce to seek Pakistan's support for Kamal's nomination. You will not move an inch without your master's blessings.
cheap stunt is right......havent been able to win a match against pakistan in 12 years the proper way, so they feel the need to resort to such cheap tactics, hoping at least this way they can register a win against pakistan.
India would not allow BD team to tour Pakistan. Stop the farce and let us accept it bitter truth. Pakistan should withdraw its support for Kamal as VP forthwith. If you are not with us, you are against us.
which terrorist will want to shoot bengalis.. i mean come on.. my bingo cook walks about in karachi having no fear..
@Truth hurts: I think the real reason they don't want to come is that they are afraid of being murdered - the same reason why tourism from oversea's has dried up. We need to blame the mullah not anyone else
Hmmm......... i too have lost all my respect for Bengaliz....... seems like the cliche that they were never a part of us if true after all................. this is cheapness at its worst...........
After the appeal fiasco, does anyone really think that the BCB is going to send their team to Pakistan? What i feel is that the BCB has tricked Pakistan into getting Vice Presidency of ICC. I dont think it was really necessary.
@Senman: Dude Mani is speaking the truth. Why are you so worried about his comments?
@Senman: Watch out the truth hurts, Mr. Mani is right, it is just an execuse not to tour Pakistan.
100% agreed with Mr Mani. Didnt expect such a cheap move by Bangladeshi team. Comes as a shock. Another surprising thing to notice was the Bangladesh PM didnt come down to meet the winning team. Had the victory team was different, PM definately had come down to meet the players.
This action by Bangladesh PM speaks volume of her intentions towards Pakistan. Sad!
This guy mani sounds like a spokes person for PCB. Even the PCB guys have not made such strident comments.
@Ahmed: Do you blame her for being pro India after what your army did to their people? Or are you saying that the genocide did not happen and it's all a Zionist Hindu conspiracy?
I totally agree with Mr. Mani's views, how the BCB Dhaka is going to complain in ICC for reversal of result. Being nation, the Bangladesh should show their sports nation spirit and instead of blaming they improve their cricket more. In fact still they are too young in compare of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka teams, but no doubt they had played well and given them tough time. But respect will be ruin if they give such a cheap statement.
Pakistanis do not understand at all on how Sheikh Hasina and her party live for a single goal of hurting them. Blind-siding this major enemy has already caused pakistan major embarrassment in case of EU GSP+ issue where bangladesh unexpectedly voted against. They are now again preparing the ground to very publicly deny touring pakistan so that stamp of terror riddled country becomes more permanent on pakistan.
When Mani talks, it reminds me of Neil Diamond's fmaous song '.... Money talks'. Unfortunately, we are creating a few desciple of arrogant and almost uncivilized Mani in the BCB administration. I don't understand why Siraj had to bring this appeal to ICC/ACC through PCB, knowing very well that ICC is composed mostly of Mani like people. Kamal probalyl wanted to come in the limelight through him (Siraj) and take some credit from our boys' (including Tamim's, who had been excluded from the team by him)' world class performance in the recently concluded Asia Cup Tournament. He is at the moment under fire for his Mani (Money) like behaviour and running the BCB affairs in a non transparent way. By the way, who has given Mani(Money) the right to call the move by Bangladesh as 'cheap' ? He should leave us alone. Kamal (who appears to be a Mani's desciple) is still trying to get a security clearance from Bangladesh Government, with regards to Bangladesh's proposed tour of Pakistan in April, as he is an influential law maker of the country. But he may not succeed as we do not trust PCB and some of our players have already raised the issue of security concerns for their invaluable lives.
Pakistan cricket was a powerhouse in ICC now they are being pushed around. Ejaz Butt messed it up
Where is all that love and brotherly equality? Was it ever there or just we Pakistanis were trying to feel warm and fuzzy? Are all those who were talking about whoever wins it would be the win of Pakistan, going to explain which Pakistan were they talking about? Be that as it may, if BD appeals and it is accepted or rejected, it is their right and we have nothing to worry about. Let the better team who played by the rules win the game.
Mani comes as a blabber mouth. As a member of ICC he needs to be neutral; nowadays he is acting as Pakistan crickets spokesperson. That said every organisation has right to protest what it thinks as injustice whether it is right or wrong will be decided by ICC and ACC, Mani needs to grow up. @Truth Hurts Dude at-least read the article before you post, it is not about touring Pakistan but a complain about the final match in Asia cup. Unnecessarily bringing up India in to this, that is the reason I commented on this thread.
Sad of the BCB to behave like this.
I'd like to stress that it's not our Bengali briothers, just BCB.
“It seems they are making grounds to refuse to tour Pakistan.”
Pretty much sums it all up!
I have lost all my respect to Bangladeshi, im sorry. I love you Pakistan cricket Team.
With Hasina in power you will never hear a good word about Muslims or Pakistanis. Mujib and his daughter were agents of India and still are....They are ruining all the goodwill in Pakistan for their Bengali brothers so what else is new and what else can expect. She is doing her job through her minions.
Mani and Basit are right. BCB is spoiling a great show put up by their players.
I totally agree with you sir!! This is just a cheap stunt.....