“We are alone while all the other nine boards are on the same side. We will have to see how to negotiate with the Big Three,” said PCB Chairman. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The PCB is the only board left to accept the plan by the ‘Big Three’, comprising Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia, for ICC’s revamp. The PCB, along with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), abstained from voting in the Singapore meeting, but the latter board decided to support the plan in the weeks that followed.
The ICC meeting, set to discuss the proposed ICC governance model, is scheduled to be held from April 8 to April 10. Sethi is likely to hold a series of extensive talks on the sidelines of the ICC meeting.
The PCB chief’s main task during these meetings will be to secure a bilateral series with India.
“My main aim is to revive cricket ties with India,” said Sethi, ahead of the meeting.
“Deals have been finalised with other boards for series till 2020, except for India. We need to play with them because it will help us generate money to run our cricketing affairs.”
He added that the PCB was in isolation and their vote would not make much of a difference.
“We are alone while all the other nine boards are on the same side. We will have to see how to negotiate with the Big Three.” However, recent reports have suggested that the PCB is likely to back the revamp plan.
Meanwhile, Sethi lamented that the PCB wasted a chance to become part of the big boards.
“We were offered to be a part of Big Four. I started that discussion, but unfortunately the board [in my absence] did not follow up on the offer.”
‘Malik, Kamran selection proved wrong’
Sethi felt that the selection of former captain Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal in the World Twenty20 proved wrong.
However, he insisted that there was no grouping in the team. “There is complete unity in the team, whether it is under Misbahul Haq or under [former T20 captain] Mohammad Hafeez,” he said. “All players, including Shahid Afridi, back their captains.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2014.
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