BCCI was noncommittal over offers: Ashraf

Ex-Chairman claims he faced stiff resistance for opposing ICC reforms.

KARACHI: Zaka Ashraf who was removed as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman reiterated that he took a principle stance against the ‘Big Three’ proposal and subsequently faced the wrath of the three, especially India.

Ashraf was sacked by patron Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last week; Sharif installed a brand new management committee for at least four months by dissolving PCB’s governing body.

Najam Sethi who was ‘elected’ as the MC chairman has repeatedly stated that the ‘Big Three’ issue was mishandled by the PCB [under Ashraf] - resulting in board’s isolation.

However, Ashraf is adamant that every move he made in this regard was solely in the interest of Pakistan’s cricket.

“I took a stand based on principles, keeping in mind the interests of Pakistan,” Ashraf said at a reception in Lahore on Sunday.

“In opposing the Big Three, I faced a threatening attitude from the three boards especially from Indian cricket board president [N Srinivasan].

“They lured me by offering chairmanship of various committees but I refused to accept what was wrong.”

The former PCB chief added that he sought assurance on offers by the BCCI to play series against Pakistan but Srinivasan was noncommittal and refused to give guarantees.

Meanwhile, Ashraf feared that the BCCI president who will soon become the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) may push for cancellation of Pakistan’s membership for recent interference by the government.

Published in The Expres Tribune, February 17^th, 2014.

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