Pakistan gets representation on ICC Executive Committee

PCB Chairman Najam Sethi elected as fourth member of all-powerful, five-member committee.

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi has been elected on the newly-formed, all-powerful International Cricket Council (ICC) Executive Committee (ExCo) in Melbourne, according to a PCB press release.     

"The ExCo comprises five members with representations from India, England and Australia besides two others with Pakistan being elected as the fourth and the West Indies as the fifth member of the committee," the PCB statement said.

The ExCo will have a number of committees reporting to it and will deal with important matters like constitution, anti-corruption, ethics, integrity, development and human resources.

This will be the core committee of the ICC, which will meet with as much frequency as required to assist and advise the ICC board on operational, management and administrative activities of the ICC.

"Last year, on a request from Najam Sethi and subsequent advice from a Queen's Counsel in the United Kingdom, sought by the PCB on Mohammad Amir's ban, the ICC had agreed to form a committee to review its Anti-Corruption Code as under the existing code there were no provisions for early entry into cricket of a banned player," the statement added.

"The work on drafting the new ICC Anti-Corruption Code has substantially progressed with a draft clause inserted into the code permitting a banned player to be involved in domestic matches prior to the end of his ban period," Sethi said.

"The Anti-Corruption Code will now be placed before the board for approval soon after which the PCB will be in the position to make an application for Mohammad Amir," the PCB statement said.

"Clearly these are some great news for the people of Pakistan. Our representation on the ExCo would ensure that Pakistan remains involved in important decision-making concerning the game of cricket," said Sethi.

"It also reflects that Pakistan now holds an important and undisputed position within the top echelon of the cricketing fraternity. The progress on ICC amendments in ICC's Anti-Corruption Code is also very encouraging and is yet another step closer to the early entry of Mohammad Amir in cricket," it concluded.

In the meantime, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the PCB have agreed on six bilateral tours between the two countries between 2015 and 2023 as mentioned in the PCB statement.

"The two boards have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) detailing the tours with the first, scheduled for December 2015, to be hosted by PCB at a venue to be mutually agreed," it said.

Commenting on this development, BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel said, "We recognise that there is no other contest in world cricket as exciting as an India-Pakistan series."

"Sports fans of both the countries eagerly look forward to these tours as this promises to be one of the most anticipated sporting events in the world," he commented.

"We are delighted to announce the revival of Pakistan-India series, which we wish to hold on a regular basis. I am happy that PCB has been able to execute an MoU with BCCI for these bilateral tours," the PCB chairman said.

"We will be announcing the schedule and other arrangements with regard to these tours at the earliest. I am confident that cricket fans of Pakistan will look forward to these exciting contests," he concluded.