Confusion prevails over task team visit

ICC denies finalising plans, to decide next week.


Express July 16, 2011

LAHORE:


While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) termed the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) task team report a “scholarly exercise”, there is confusion after reports emerged regarding a visit by the members to better analyse the situation in the country.


It was learnt that some members, including Pakistan Task Team head and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chairman Giles Clarke, intended to visit Pakistan to defend their recommendations.

However, an ECB official said that nothing could be confirmed just yet.

“We have not made any announcement regarding a visit to Pakistan,” ECB Head of Corporate Communications Andrew Walpole told The Express Tribune. “We cannot confirm anything at this stage.”

Reports suggested that the PTT official would visit Pakistan sometime soon, with ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat likely to be part of the team. However, Walpole said that the team is assessing the situation, adding that a decision would be made next week.

It is understood that the PCB high-ups have been unhappy with Lorgat’s behavior since the spot-fixing scandal last year. “Cricket in Pakistan has unique circumstances, and the PTT report was giving an impression that the whole system is faulty,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune. “We understand the spot-fixing scandal but it is unfair to dismiss the cricketing system based on just one episode.”



Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2011.

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