Ashraf confirms ‘Big Four’ offer was made

India stepped back from proposition, says former PCB chief

LAHORE: Reacting to claims by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi that his predecessor spurned an offer by India to join the so-called ‘Big Three’, Zaka Ashraf confirmed an offer was floated at one stage but was never a firm commitment.

"They did offer us to join the group,” said Ashraf.

“But when I went to attend the International Cricket Council [ICC] meeting in February, India stepped back from their offer. They claimed that two other members of the body – Australia and England – are not ready to admit Pakistan as a fourth member.”

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sacked Ashraf two days after the ‘Big Three’ reforms for a major reorganisation of the game's administration were approved. Thereafter, he reappointed Sethi, who himself was suspended by the Islamabad High Court in January over alleged irregularities in his appointment.

The PCB was initially one of three countries who opposed the revamp of the ICC approved by members in February.

The move handed the majority of the powers and revenues to the ‘Big Three’ of the game — India, Australia and England.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstained from voting on the reforms, but since then, Sri Lanka have hinted they will sign the draft.

Ashraf said India's assurances were never made in writing.

"Whatever India offered us were not on paper and we could not have taken those verbal assurances," Ashraf told reporters.

India have not played a full bilateral series with Pakistan since the 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai. Pakistan toured India for a brief limited-over series in December 2012-January 2013.

The ICC meeting is set to discuss the legal perspectives of the proposed governance model.