Najam Sethi, interim chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said that he would be happy if the courts appointed a new chairman. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Landing in Lahore early on Wednesday, Sethi desisted from taking any names but said that some people, including former board officials had attempted to get Pakistan suspended.
“But when they [ICC officials] met us, they supported us and the new [board] constitution.”
Sethi said that he did not want to get into a blame game, but will instead sit with the concerned people and talk the matter out.
No international matches
The acting chairman said that while decisions regarding international matches had been taken in the previous ICC meeting, the current security situation in Pakistan had almost ruled out any prospect of international cricket returning to home soil any time soon.
“After Sri Lanka, attack, no team wants to come to play here, not even Bangladesh. Maximum we can do is ask them (ICC) to review after a year. But they demand assurances and demonstrable progress.”
Lawyer for Amir
Sethi said that after much pleading the ICC had agreed to form a sub-committee to look at the anti-corruption laws and see how, after the five year sentence ends, can Mohammad Amir play test cricket again.
Sethi claimed that the review was a big win and that now he and his colleagues had decided to hire a British lawyer for Amir.
“We will hire a white lawyer in UK, since they react to our skin colour, to look at the anti-corruption laws and look at ways to get at least 20% relief for Amir.”
On a question about Salman Butt, Sethi said that while Amir had repented and sought rehabilitation, Butt on the other hand had gone to every court, and it was only after he had been turned away that he admitted his guilt.
Sethi said that England cricket board and county chief Giles Clark said that “they were ready to listen but Salman Butt, Kaneria are not admitting their guilt.”Butt did not admit his mistake at any stage and has only now come out with it.
Unofficial tours
Unable to secure a home series, Sethi said that informal talks with the West Indies board chairman and the England board chief, they were working on bringing an unofficial team to play in Pakistan.
“Pakistan cricket is at the lowest rung, we are not winning, cricketers are cheating, no one wants to play here, things were never this bad.”
Sethi said that India dominates the ICC board, in part due to the IPL and the massive money it brings for players of different countries. “India does not have to plead its case, other nations now plead India's case for it.”
The PCB chairman added that he was informally communicated that if he wanted anything done, it would be better to try luck in New Delhi and get the prime minister to mend ties with India.
Court trouble
Talking about a petition in the court against his appointment, Sethi said that he was just an acting chairman and with his new show due to start on Friday July 5, 2013, he would like nothing better than to go back to his old life.
“But then who will take care of the team selection for the upcoming tours of West Indies and Zimbabwe?”
The PCB acting chairman said that there was no use in pushing petitions, rather problems should be solved together. He added that if a chairman had been appointed by the prime minister on the orders of the court and that he had also been accepted by the ICC, he should be allowed to continue.
“If the courts now start appointing [chairmen], I want the court to appoint a chairman. And if the team then loses, then the judge who appoints him, it will be his responsibility to explain.”
Team selection
Sethi said that he had had no time to tinker with the selection committee, hence the current set up that he inherited will be asked to come up with a team for the upcoming tours.
“I will make the cricketers, coach, selectors sit and tell them to endorse the team. Win or lose, they will then be responsible.”
COMMENTS (31)
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Why waste money on Amir, you are PCB... why waste resources on a person? invest in the infrastructure and system. Cricket promotion is about spreading the game in grass roots not about country team winning internationaly. Was tennis dead in UK for last eight decades just because they did not had a wimbeldon winner???
@HRK: In cricinfo he has also not made the comment about India having it easy due to IPL or about 'they reacting to our color'or made an indirect swipe at India trying to ban Pakistan. He probably said different things to different audiences.
There is too much difference between the 2 versions so it does not seem like just a case of bad translation by ET o foreign vs. white.
Mr. Sethi is right about race card. But money talk.
It's a foreign lawyer, not white lawyer! ET get your context corrected. Check your quotes against Cricinfo before making a mockery out of Sethi due to your lackluster vocabulary.
Move On. Dump the corrupt, and enlist new talents. Baluchis do not play cricket, I wonder why? Sind is no Pick Zone. I guess Qaim Ali Shah not fond of Klicket.!!!!!!
"The PCB chairman added that he was informally communicated that if he wanted anything done, it would be better to try luck in New Delhi and get the prime minister to mend ties with India."....meaning that unless we have relations with India according to their terms we will not be allowed to play even cricket
"“We will hire a white lawyer in UK, since they react to our skin colour, to look at the anti-corruption laws and look at ways to get at least 20% relief for Amir.”"
Very disappointed to see someone like Sethi saab trying to play the race card.
Oh really..mr sethi seems to me most liberal and practical person when he was a mediaperson,but looking at his statements i am just confused...what is forcing him to say all this or his real truth is out now.. one thing for sure when u r out of politics thing seem very differently and and all type of advice follows but once u r part of it u knw the real challenges..
@abdussamad: probably the most perceptive comment of the day.
Does this guy know anything about racism and the strict laws in the country against it in the country he just returned from?! It would be almost funny it weren't so wrong.
I mean is he even educated? Has he had any exposure to the outside world? I would expect such a statement from someone who doesn't really know much about the outside world.
Does it suit the Chairman of a cricket board to issue such a lofty/hollow statement. I mean does he even know what diplomacy is? You can be sued for such a statement in a civilized country. If we have such a chairman at the helm, then we can be re rest-assured people WILL be trying to get Pakistan suspended. Such callous statements just won't help.
@abdussamad: it's about MONEY. Salams
Sethi is Sethi. He is waving his wand and in no time if allowed to continue, will ring in the change. A facelift whose primacy cannot be undermined.
A highly educated and experienced man with determination and convincing arguments, Mr. Sethi will be only too glad to give cricket a new image in Pakistan. Mr. Ijaz But must face the accountability court for the irreparable damage he has done to Pakistan's integrity and cricket. No more cushions for him. Salams
I think Sethi has lost his credibility, It is easy to share pearls of wisdom by anchoring a television show but ground realities are different.
All this rhetoric and emotionalism is to get the attentions diverted from the issue of his illegal(?) appointment and to gain the sympathies of media-savvy "those". The same technique as is being used by MQM supremo and has been used by Nawaz to get the attentions diverted from the real issues.
“We will hire a white lawyer in UK, since they react to our skin colour, to look at the anti-corruption laws and look at ways to get at least 20% relief for Amir.”
Mr. Sethi, do note we, brown skins, are more racist than the white skin. And your comments proves it.
Mr Sethi, I am surprised at your comments. Mr M Amir may be a very talented bowler but no one is indispensible and no player is worth the self respect of a nation. I never thought anyone would need to say that to you.
yes, Pakistan is one of the most racially tolerant country. isn't that right,ET?
I was concerned and now worried that instead of finding new talent PCB will spend $$$ on defending the self confessed criminals This is beyond belief PCB needs professional leadership
@TightPatloon: India's influence on the smaller ICC members is well documented. Now the bigger members are also under India's influence. Maybe now it was not such a good idea to get ICC headquarters to move to Dubai from London. I recall Pakistan and Sri Lanka supported the move thinking they would have greater say. BCCI played a master's game.
Perhaps you should loosen up your patloon so you can think straight.
I have seen Sethi saab in his shows.. He seems to be less emotional, more pragmatic, realistic solution oriented and non interventionist in his approach. All these are good signs for a diplomat. He is the right person for this job if Pakistani cricket lovers allow him to do his work. His job is basically administrative and man management and you don't have to be a cricketer to do that.....
If you are going to spend money on a white lawyer, Mr. Sethi, please make sure you find someone who is the whitest of the whites. And no Irish white, Scottish white....don't settle for anything other than a pure bred English white. Please also exclude anyone related to the Royal family since some members are known to have a touch of brown in them.
If time permits, please also check their professional track record.
"We will hire a white lawyer". This from the editor of the Friday Times. I cannot believe what prejudices Pakistani leaders carry around in their heads. His first act at the ICC meeting is to try to rehabilitate blacklisted Aamer. Let the boy serve his sentence. Is their not enough honest talent in Pakistan to groom. Whither your priorities Mr Sethi?
..“We will hire a white lawyer in UK, since they react to our skin colour, to look at the anti-corruption laws and look at ways to get at least 20% relief for Amir.”
From what i know of najam sethi, i find it hard to believe that he could have uttered this words! Tribune should double check the source. is there a video? If najam sethi indeed said this, i am disappointed in him and it is pretty stupid of him. As, this statements won't go down well with the "white" members of ICC and will certainly won't help the PCB's appeal.
Why is it mr sethi that you need to go plead your case and spendso muchc money on defending a convict? Why cant we move on from such scenarioss where our pride goes at stake bcoz of people who sold Ithis pride in the first place? Why cant we replace him with someone less talented may be but lot more honest?
Sure. Calling them racists is definitely going to get the ICC / courts on Amir's side, because we all know that's the real issue here.
Bewildered and disappointed to read this quote.
I highly doubt this. Also this was probably revealed to him by his little "chiriya". Countries like Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are part of the council. What makes them think that they can kick out a major cricketing country like Pakistan out. I think this is a big bluff that Mr Sethi is playing to save his position.
“We will hire a white lawyer in UK, since they react to our skin colour, to look at the anti-corruption laws and look at ways to get at least 20% relief for Amir.”
This is perhaps one of the lamest and most disappointing statements from a person of such a high calibre as Sethi ! He sounds desperate and like a backbench politician.
Very surprised by such a juvenile statement.
As a cricket lover, it pains me to see a team like Pakistan go through this. Its an insult to all the people who love this game so dearly to see a great team go down like this. I remember as a kid, the stress I would go through when we(India) played pakistan, each and every match was just classic. It was a treat to see likes of Imran and wasim go after gavaskar and the rest..
This is what happens when politics gets involved in every inch of life. Crooks, conmen and gangsters run the show.
The article says "Sethi said that India dominates the ICC board, in part due to the IPL and the massive money it brings for players of different countries. “India does not have to plead its case, other nations now plead India’s case for it.” The PCB chairman added that he was informally communicated that if he wanted anything done, it would be better to try luck in New Delhi and get the prime minister to mend ties with India."
Pakistan should stop playing international cricket and should not be coerced to submit to hegemony of Indian cricket. How about that ?
“We will hire a white lawyer in UK, since they react to our skin colour"
This is just silly. Terrorist acts are committed by Pakistanis and so is corruption and cheating. So playing the race card just makes you look silly. By his own admission the equally brown skinned Indians have it very easy:
“India does not have to plead its case, other nations now plead India’s case for it.”
It's not about skin colour. It's how you manage things.
SHARIF-SETHI NRO Why cant there be a person who has cricketing background in this position