Former ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed has backed Ehsan Mani’s letter. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI: Former International Cricket Council (ICC) President Ehsan Mani’s note against the proposal by the India, Australia and England boards pushing for control of the global governing body is drawing worldwide support.
With the ICC Board meeting set to decide the fate of the proposal on January 28 and 29, several big names have joined Mani’s protest.
The former head and a prominent chartered accountant, Mani wrote an extensive letter, that he also shared with The Express Tribune, observing that the implementation of such a proposal would only enrich these three countries at the cost of other boards.
The letter, according to reports, was also undersigned by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd besides former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chiefs Shaharyar Khan and Lt Gen (retd) Tauqir Zia.
Interestingly, Mani’s letter also convinced former Cricket Australia and ICC bosses Malcom Speed and Malcom Gray, who broke ranks with their national board to support the move.
The letter sent to the ICC and member boards is demanding the proposal to be withdrawn, asking the governing body to instead revisit Woolf Report that called for improved governance, independent directors and greater transparency.
The text of the letter, according to ESPNcricinfo, reads:
“First, the Paper by the ICC F&CA Committee should be withdrawn. Second, the ICC directors and management, as a matter of urgency, are invited to review and comment on the Governance Report by Lord Woolf and PWC, with a view to implementing its recommendations and improving ICC’s Governance structure.”
Former cricketers warn PCB
In the meantime, several former Pakistan cricketers have warned the PCB against supporting plans of the ‘big three’.
These include Zaheer Abbas and Mohsin Khan, who have cautioned against the ‘trap’ by these three boards that have suddenly started showing an interest in playing a series with Pakistan.
It may be mentioned that Zaka Ashraf, who is countering a petition by the government in Supreme Court against his reinstatement earlier this month, is representing the PCB in this make or break ICC meeting.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (6)
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To reveal the facts, its not at all about Pakistan-India rivalry or PCB-BCCI show of muscle. Its purely about sports apartheid. No 2 or 3 or 4 or any number of boards should restrict the highest offices to themselves. It goes against the very spirit of cricket which used to be a gentlmen's game. While England and Australia have a long, established and well-documented history of racial discrimination and apartheid, particularly in their respective colonies, India has been a historical victim and should not fall into this trap. Otherwise, it becomes a mere money-making affair instead of sport. Pakistan and the rest of the world should lobby hard to get this and even boycott the ICC with like-minded on such a matter of principle. Otherwise, there's no end to this colonial mindset. And India is not USA, even though we could put our foot down with latter only if we want to. Stop playing politics and let us enjoy the game.
Good, India can not do anything to Pakistan anway. What are they going to do, cancel non-existent tours with Pakistan? The BCCI is just overcompensating for their pathetic team that can't win a single foreign tour.
hope pakistan remains in future ICC tournaments..if it oppose BCCI...because opposing BCCI is like opposing america in case of drone strike..both will hit u hard..so take decision accordingly...keep aside ego and self respect..think about money....on one hand...
I hope zaka ashram will notscrew things up. At this point in time, I think it would've been better to have Najaf sethi. This is a trap set by the indian board. If you approve of it, every cricket-lover in pakistan will hate you. Every cricket lover in the world will hate you.