ICC refuses to deploy match officials for Zimbabwe series

Series granted official status after requisite arrangement was made in April .

KARACHI:

The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on Sunday that it would not be sending their match officials to officiate in the Pakistan-Zimbabwe T20 and ODI series which begins on Friday in Lahore.

In a media release, the ICC confirmed its position on the series that is being hailed as the first step towards the revival of international cricket in Pakistan after the 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lanka team.

“The ICC today advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) that it will not be appointing its match officials for the upcoming series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe,” read an official ICC press release. “The ICC’s decision has been made after receiving a report from its security consultant.”

The governing body added that a provision was made earlier in the year to facilitate the PCB’s endeavours of resuming international cricket at home by allowing them to appoint their own match officials.

“The ICC Board, during its April meeting, had decided that the playing conditions relating to the appointment of match officials could be waived to allow the PCB to appoint local match officials for this series should the ICC decide not to send its umpires and referee due to the current security situation in Pakistan,” read the press release.

The statement also clarified that the series would be considered “official cricket”, even though the matches would not be played ‘strictly in accordance with the ICC standard playing conditions’.

ICC’s reluctance understandable: Latif

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has backed ICC’s stance on the tour
of Zimbabwe. The legendary gloveman told The Express Tribune that in the prevailing circumstances, the body is under real pressure.

“God forbid, if an untoward incident disrupts the series or forces a cancellation, the ICC would be lambasted by other member countries,” said Latif. “The governing body of the game is responsible for running cricket smoothly everywhere.”

Latif, however, feels that an incident-free Zimbabwe tour will go a long way to normalise an unhindered revival of international sports in the country. “Hopefully, a top-class organisation of the Zimbabwe series will enable the full return of cricket in Pakistan. The first step is vital and needs to be backed by all concerned.”

Latif also feels that the number of luminaries should be kept to a minimum to ensure comprehensive security. “I feel that invites shouldn’t be given out to foreign dignitaries,” said the former Test cricketer. “The series should be low-key, and the focus should totally be on staging an incident-free event.”

On the other hand, another wicketkeeping great Wasim Bari feels that the ICC should have been more forthcoming for the cause of cricket in one of their major member countries. “Pakistan is an important member of the cricket fraternity, ICC needs to support cricket and take good care of the members,” stated Bari. “In the longer run, the ICC’s support of cricket in Pakistan is only going to strengthen the cause of the game around the world.”

Tiffin to umpire ODIs

The Pakistan Cricket Board has unravelled the names of match officials for the Pakistan v Zimbabwe series, with seasoned Zimbabwean umpire Russell Tiffin joining his Pakistan counterparts as on-field umpire for the three ODIs.

ICC’s elite panel umpire Aleem Dar would officiate in the
first ODI set to be played on May 26.

Umpire Ahsan Raza, who was seriously injured in the terror attack six years ago, is also a part of the panel, while selector Azhar Khan has been named the match referee for the entire series.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th,  2015.

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