A surety of regular series taking place with England and Australia, and other concessions to the benefit of the PCB, could have still salvaged the situation. PHOTO: FILE
Given this, the PCB’s opposition to the reforms was justified. However, it went into the ICC meeting without a back-up plan, depending only on its alliance with the Sri Lankan and South African boards to counter the Big Three’s proposal. There were voices pushing the PCB to ask the Indian board to enter into an agreement that would see the two countries play each other on a regular basis in exchange for Pakistan’s support for the reforms. As has been pointed out, the Indian board failed to give any guarantees in this regard. However, one fails to understand why the PCB could not have pursued such agreements with the other two boards that make up the Big Three? A surety of regular series taking place with England and Australia, and other concessions to the benefit of the PCB, could have still salvaged the situation. The PCB now needs to put its own house in order, especially after the events of February 10. The uncertainty regarding the chairman’s slot needs to be cleared up, our domestic structure strengthened and alliances formed with other boards to ensure that we are not left completely isolated.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2014.
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Pakistan should demand a share of revenue from Russia for sending athletes to Winter Olympics.
An individual must evaluate his own strength before taking on an adversary. That Pakistan has always failed miserably on this score need not be emphasized. Having been isolated it will fall in line at the next meeting, falling between two stools without attendant benefits. Scoring brownie points with the public by ranting against India and BCCI, would be good for Politicians, not for the Sport on whose behalf PCB should be fighting.
it rightly faced severe criticism from several quarters as it advocated the Big Three boards raking up most of the revenue generated by the ICC
But don't the Big Three Boards generate most of the revenue as well. So Pakistan and Sri Lanka want equal share of the revenue even though they don't generate any.
No wonder they were totally isolated
Heartening to note that none of the Big Three agreed to a “surety of regular series taking place” nor did they agree to “other concessions to the benefit of the PCB”. Congratulations to the cricket boards of India, England and Australia to call the bluff of Pakistan and not part with any jaziyah in the form of benefits that other cricketing nations were not getting.
Any way what back-up plan is ET suggesting ? Threat by the PCB of the formation of a Muslim Cricket Council financed by China and Saudi Arabia with Pakistan as the sole Caliph in charge?
Editorial writer seems to have forgotten the adage “he who pays the piper calls the tune”. Much as Pakistan does not like to be reminded, here India is the one paying the piper and Pakistan's role is limited to hearing the piper for free. When Pakistan had no power but to fall in line, it is fatuous to have grandiose delusions and talk about back-up plans.
You were isolated on the day your snakes attacked Srilankan cricketers You were isolated the day the world found out that either you are unwilling or incapable of capturing and punishing the attackers You were not isolated in Feb 2014. ET Pl publish