Revival of international cricket: Uncertainty over Bangladesh series continues
BCB president Kamal says team will not play with non-neutral officials.
KARACHI:
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) gave a setback to hopes of revival of international cricket in Pakistan, objecting to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executives Committee’s (CEC) decision to recommend non-neutral officials for a proposed series between the two countries.
The ICC CEC had agreed to recommend non-neutrals to officiate in the series, which is yet to be finalised, in case security apprehensions do not allow the sport’s world governing body to sends its own officials to Pakistan.
The ICC added that “a special dispensation to depart from the Standard Playing Conditions to allow non-neutral match officials to participate in the matches would be required from the ICC Board.”
However, responding to the development, the BCB President Mustafa Kamal told a press conference in Dhaka that the board will not compromise on the ICC’s rules for the proposed series.
“We will not play the series without neutral umpires,” said Kamal while responding to a query. “We will only send the team if the series is played as per the ICC rules.”
He further said that the BCB will not confirm the tour without the ICC’s clearance, although the governing body stated that giving clearance was not in its domain and depends on the participating countries.
“The ICC must play its role as a member body. We are not going there without the ICC and our government’s clearance.”
The development comes as a shock as Pakistan bids to revive international cricket.
Only last week Kamal gave a thumbs-up to security arrangements in the country when a delegation from Bangladesh visited Pakistan ahead of the proposed series.
“I want to help Pakistan revive international cricket. I promised the security team visit and I went there.
“But the security threat cannot be ignored. I am not alone in deciding the tour as there are many other officials from the government who are involved in reaching a conclusion.
“A report is yet to be finalised and anything on touring Pakistan will be decided by the end of this month.”
Pakistan have not hosted an international series since March 2009 after an attack on the Sri Lanka team left members of the touring party injured.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2012.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) gave a setback to hopes of revival of international cricket in Pakistan, objecting to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executives Committee’s (CEC) decision to recommend non-neutral officials for a proposed series between the two countries.
The ICC CEC had agreed to recommend non-neutrals to officiate in the series, which is yet to be finalised, in case security apprehensions do not allow the sport’s world governing body to sends its own officials to Pakistan.
The ICC added that “a special dispensation to depart from the Standard Playing Conditions to allow non-neutral match officials to participate in the matches would be required from the ICC Board.”
However, responding to the development, the BCB President Mustafa Kamal told a press conference in Dhaka that the board will not compromise on the ICC’s rules for the proposed series.
“We will not play the series without neutral umpires,” said Kamal while responding to a query. “We will only send the team if the series is played as per the ICC rules.”
He further said that the BCB will not confirm the tour without the ICC’s clearance, although the governing body stated that giving clearance was not in its domain and depends on the participating countries.
“The ICC must play its role as a member body. We are not going there without the ICC and our government’s clearance.”
The development comes as a shock as Pakistan bids to revive international cricket.
Only last week Kamal gave a thumbs-up to security arrangements in the country when a delegation from Bangladesh visited Pakistan ahead of the proposed series.
“I want to help Pakistan revive international cricket. I promised the security team visit and I went there.
“But the security threat cannot be ignored. I am not alone in deciding the tour as there are many other officials from the government who are involved in reaching a conclusion.
“A report is yet to be finalised and anything on touring Pakistan will be decided by the end of this month.”
Pakistan have not hosted an international series since March 2009 after an attack on the Sri Lanka team left members of the touring party injured.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2012.