“The board is being run in an unprofessional manner and it is the PCB’s own mistake that Pakistan has been isolated,” Mani told The Express Tribune. He added that that the board has even failed to send a report of the attacks on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March last year- which might have influenced the ICC’s decision.
“How can anyone take the board seriously when it has failed to send the report sought by the ICC repeatedly,” said the former ICC chief.
He also advised that the PCB should start with small events for the revival of international cricket in the country by inviting ICC associate members or other club teams from abroad.
“It’s not only Pakistan that is on the centre of terrorism. Even India experiences major attacks at regular intervals,” said Mani.
Meanwhile, former Test cricketer Zaheer Abbas sees the ICC decision as a big setback for the country.
“It’s a huge setback. Pakistan is already facing a drought of international cricket and the decision will hurt the country’s cricket badly,” said Abbas.
Abbas, however, hoped the cricket’s governing body will reverse its decision if the law and order situation improved in the coming months.
Meanwhile, another former Test player Iqbal Qasim, saw the decision as a premature call by the ICC.
“ICC should have monitored the security situation of the country regularly, the conditions can be improved in the near future,” said Qasim.
Mani slams PCB for Howard’s rejection
Mani also slammed the PCB for supporting the Indian board to block former Australian premier John Howard’s nomination as the ICC vice-president.
Mani believes that the PCB has repeated the same mistake of obeying the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on the ICC matters
“It’s the BCCI that has kept Pakistan isolated and following them again is a big mistake by the PCB,” said Mani.
Howard was jointly nominated by New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Australia as a candidate for the ICC vice-presidency but failed to get the required seven votes from 10 full members with six countries including the Asian bloc going against him.
Mani felt that blocking Howard’s nomination was a politically motivated move from which the PCB will come out empty-handed.
“What was the strategic value of supporting India?” asked Mani.
He also said that the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt has also damaged the country’s credibility by taking a u-turn on the matter.
“Just weeks after assuring the ICC President David Morgan of their support for Howard, Butt damaged Pakistan’s credibility by refusing to vote for him,” said Mani.
Mani said Howard, on the other hand, could have helped Pakistan in many ways including the revival of international cricket.
“Howard has a great reputation, he could have helped the PCB in many ways since cricket affairs are all about diplomacy these days,” added the 61-year old.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2010.
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