Ijaz Butt welcomes ICC’s move
LAHORE:
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt has welcomed the initiative by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to send a hand-picked team to Pakistan in order to revive international cricket in the country.
According to the ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, the organisation plans to send a team late next year ‘as the [ICC] can’t leave things as they are if it is at all possible to play in Pakistan’.
“I welcome the positive attitude by the ICC,” Butt told The Express Tribune. “The revival of cricket in the country is not so far-fetched. There have been efforts made despite the fact that international matches are not currently possible in Pakistan and the ICC has been playing a leading role in ensuring that Pakistani cricket continues to thrive at the international level.”
After the attacks on the Sri Lankan team touring Pakistan last year, Pakistan found itself isolated from the cricket world as no team was willing to tour the country due to security concerns.
“It will always be dependent on the expert advice of the security experts, but we think that perhaps towards the end of next year we must start looking at what the horizon looks like and if it is at all possible [to send a team to Pakistan],” Lorgat told BBC Radio Five Live Extra. “We will assess the situation very, very carefully. We know that we can’t leave things as they are if it is at all possible to play in Pakistan.
“I’m not just suggesting a bilateral series, it may be an ICC XI. Whether it’s a youth team, and older team, or whatever. I would go with that team as well. We need to look at it. We shouldn’t just sit back and do nothing. But we certainly would not do something that is not properly calculated.”
Lorgat appreciated all of ICC’s Full Members for their support of cricket in Pakistan despite the country’s turbulent political situation.
“Many have agreed to either host Pakistan at neutral grounds or to travel to neutral venues to ensure that Pakistan’s Future Tours Programme commitments are fulfilled,” maintained Lorgat. “We are also indebted to the Emirates Cricket Board and the stadiums in the United Arab Emirates for their continued willingness to provide Pakistan with a home venue.”
Butt also echoed Lorgat words, and said, “I am also grateful to members of the ICC Task Force Team for Pakistan who have worked extremely hard, under the leadership of the English Cricket Board’s chairman Giles Clarke, to ensure that Pakistan is able to participate at the international level.
“The ongoing series against Australia in England is one of the prime examples of their support.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2010.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt has welcomed the initiative by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to send a hand-picked team to Pakistan in order to revive international cricket in the country.
According to the ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, the organisation plans to send a team late next year ‘as the [ICC] can’t leave things as they are if it is at all possible to play in Pakistan’.
“I welcome the positive attitude by the ICC,” Butt told The Express Tribune. “The revival of cricket in the country is not so far-fetched. There have been efforts made despite the fact that international matches are not currently possible in Pakistan and the ICC has been playing a leading role in ensuring that Pakistani cricket continues to thrive at the international level.”
After the attacks on the Sri Lankan team touring Pakistan last year, Pakistan found itself isolated from the cricket world as no team was willing to tour the country due to security concerns.
“It will always be dependent on the expert advice of the security experts, but we think that perhaps towards the end of next year we must start looking at what the horizon looks like and if it is at all possible [to send a team to Pakistan],” Lorgat told BBC Radio Five Live Extra. “We will assess the situation very, very carefully. We know that we can’t leave things as they are if it is at all possible to play in Pakistan.
“I’m not just suggesting a bilateral series, it may be an ICC XI. Whether it’s a youth team, and older team, or whatever. I would go with that team as well. We need to look at it. We shouldn’t just sit back and do nothing. But we certainly would not do something that is not properly calculated.”
Lorgat appreciated all of ICC’s Full Members for their support of cricket in Pakistan despite the country’s turbulent political situation.
“Many have agreed to either host Pakistan at neutral grounds or to travel to neutral venues to ensure that Pakistan’s Future Tours Programme commitments are fulfilled,” maintained Lorgat. “We are also indebted to the Emirates Cricket Board and the stadiums in the United Arab Emirates for their continued willingness to provide Pakistan with a home venue.”
Butt also echoed Lorgat words, and said, “I am also grateful to members of the ICC Task Force Team for Pakistan who have worked extremely hard, under the leadership of the English Cricket Board’s chairman Giles Clarke, to ensure that Pakistan is able to participate at the international level.
“The ongoing series against Australia in England is one of the prime examples of their support.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2010.