PCB expected to adopt stern stance against BCCI in ICC meeting

Board officials to question Anurag Thakur’s remarks regarding Champions Trophy

KARACHI: Unhappy over the stance of their Indian counterparts, top officials of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) left for South Africa yesterday to attend an International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting, promising a tough reply to the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) latest assault.

PCB's Executive Committee Chairman Najam Sethi and Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed will be representing the board in the ICC meeting, which begins today. Sethi will fill in for the ailing PCB Chairman, Shaharyar Khan.

Although the key agenda of the meeting is a discussion on ‘Big Three’ model, a probable argument between the BCCI and PCB may steal the limelight.

As tensions flared on the border, BCCI chief Anurag Thakur recently said India has decided against playing Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy league matches and asked the ICC not to place the two teams in same group.

The PCB, whose officials normally maintain a soft stance on BCCI’s tirades against Pakistan, is expected to take a sterner approach this time around.

“The board has decided to give a stern reply to the BCCI and will also make a formal complaint against their remarks in the ICC meeting,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune. “The officials have gone well prepared to confront the BCCI, which is making every effort to sideline Pakistan cricket. The PCB never wanted to mix politics with the game but India have always brought cricket into disrepute.”

The PCB is also expected to oppose the Indian board’s attempt to prop up the ‘Big Three’ formula, which helps India, Australia and England get a major chunk from ICC’s revenue.

“The BCCI is expecting backing from other boards such as Bangladesh and West Indies. But we’re going to oppose them during the meeting,” said the official.

The Indian officials will raise their voice against ICC head Shashank Manohar's bid to scrap the 'Big Three' model, which was brought in by former chief Narayanaswami Srinivasan.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2016.

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