Zaka Ashraf has reiterated the stance that national interest would be the priority when deciding on the ICC’s proposed reforms. PHOTO: FILE / EXPRESS
Amid uncertainty on its own fate, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Governing Board (GB) will assemble on Monday to decide its stance on the proposal by the ‘Big Three’, deemed vital for the future of the game in the country.
PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf has promised that the decision will be taken in the best interest of national cricket.
The Pakistan board, along with Cricket South Africa (CSA) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), opposed the reforms proposal by the India, England and Australia cricket boards, who are vying for control over the International Cricket Council (ICC).
With the rest of the major cricket bodies on board, the ‘Big Three’ will need only one vote from the ‘Opposing Three’ at the ICC meeting on February 8 in Singapore, where the constitutional change in the global governing body is expected to be made.
PCB’s governors to decide on proposal today
Meanwhile, the PCB opted to involve only its board of governors (governing body), which mainly comprises of members from smaller regions to seek a consensus on the position paper.
It was learned that the PCB did not even seek advice from former ICC president Ehsan Mani, whose detailed letter against the draft proposal was appreciated and undersigned by various former cricketers and ex-administrators.
However, Ashraf defended his decision to rely on the governing body only.
“It is the constitutional way,” Ashraf told The Express Tribune.
“The governing board is authorised to take a decision. We are also seeking a meeting with our Patron Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in this regard.
“As far as other stakeholders are concerned, we are taking their input in private and are also getting suggestions from their media statements.”
Ashraf reiterated that he had won the initial battle with the powerful cricket boards by successfully pushing for a deferral.
“We got the decision postponed in the last ICC meeting. I now promise that I will ensure our interest and will not compromise on Pakistan cricket. We will take a decision accordingly [in Monday’s meeting].”
The ‘Big Three’ are promising lucrative offers to lure the opposing boards, but pundits have warned the PCB of negative repercussions in the longer run, in view of experiences with the Indian board that overlooked many commitments in the past.
“We are aware of that and we will take a decision that will have long-term benefits for our cricket,” he said.
Ashraf calls for stability in board
Ashraf also urged the need for stability in Pakistan’s cricket as a sword hangs on his fate as the chairman, following a recent Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) on the Prime Minister’s appointment as PCB’s Patron.
The reinstatement of the Interim Management Committee (in one form or the other) that became defunct after Islamabad’s High Court restored Ashraf is expected to follow the SRO.
“It [the ‘Big Three’ proposal] is a very sensitive matter for the future of Pakistan cricket. There is a need for stability in the PCB so that it can take the right decisions,” he concluded.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd, 2014.
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@Ch. Allah Daad: So why India, Australia, England will get bigger share? & Veto Power authority? What extra they are doing for the cricketing world? ESPN, Samsung not Indian Channels..& so on the story put by all the three nations.
This strategic matter should be decided by parliament, Not by a single man..!! Because if once Pakistan will show leniency to this matter it will repent for-good. No more cricket under Big three...
country sans respect
@Ch. Allah Daad: I don't know why you predicted same like PML-N to favour unnecessarily for India. I guess very soon we will become aware of PML-N Just like we discover recently about Geo News Aman ki Asha behind the scene story.
The reality is Pakistan has no other option than to obey the order of Big Three
@B: It's not about the people, it's about eh long term interests of Pakistan cricket,s secondly in a country where Rs. 8 trillion were taken as loans during just five years from 2008 to 2013 and no one know where the money went, why people are making such noise over possible loss of a few billion rupees!!???? Because when it's come to respect for this country they give a damn to it. If you people are so concerned about loss of money first cry about Rs. 8000 billion (8 trillion) in loans taken and looted during corruption party government from 2008 to 2013
@Zakauddin: 100% agree with you Sir. Remember how they lost the 3rd ODI against India. And how they let go in WC. Betting on Pakistan losing against India is a huge attraction for the corrupt ruling class of Pakistan thus they lick the feet of their Indian masters so they agree to play with them and they mint money
A very sticky position Pakistan is. If it agrees to the proposal, it will be damned by the people. If it resists, it will always be maligned by ICC till Pakistan exiists. The big three have finally cornered Pakistan into sumission.
Mr. Ashraf has told nothing about the dispute. If its about distribution of money, then those who generate more revenue should have more access to it. If its about democracy, then Mr. Ashraf should be the first one to be kicked out. He is not elected, nor any of his board members, or its about Indian presence in big three which we Pakistanis hate?