PCB links World Twenty20 participation with bilateral series

Shahryar says he travelled to India on BCCI chief’s invitation; Pakistan pulls out of blind cricket tournament


Our Correspondent October 22, 2015
Shahryar holds up the BCCI’s invitation letter to PCB in a news conference in Lahore. PHOTO: AFP

LAHORE:


After his India visit was sabotaged by far-right Hindu activists, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shahryar Khan on Wednesday voiced skepticism over a bilateral series with the Men in Blue while hinting that the Green Shirts might boycott next year’s Twenty20 world cup unless New Delhi does more to douse Pakistan-hostile sentiments there.


“Until and unless all the doors are slammed shut, we cannot say what our stance will be on World Twenty20,” Shahryar told a news conference at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore upon his return from India on Wednesday.

“But one thing is for sure, if the security situation remains the same in India, then we surely will take the security of our players into consideration first and contact the International Cricket Council (ICC) about Pakistan’s participation in the mega event.”

Dozens of activists of far-right Shiv Sena party stormed the Mumbai offices of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday and scuppered scheduled talks between the chiefs of BCCI and PCB. Their threats also forced the ICC to withdraw its elite panel umpire from Pakistan, Aleem Dar.

Shahryar claimed that he had travelled to India on an invitation from the BCCI chief.

“I asked him [BCCI President Shashank Manohar] if he was sure the meeting should be held in Mumbai. He said he was sure and added that after Sunday’s Indian board meeting, he will meet me on Monday,” the 81-year old former diplomat said as he showed to the media a copy of the written invitation.

On Monday, Shahryar’s fears came true when Shiv Sena activists attacked the BCCI offices in Mumbai demanding the PCB chief be sent back.

“What they did to me, a guest, was not at all good. No one called me to apologise for the incident or to inform me about rescheduling the meeting which was cancelled due to Shiv Sena’s protest,” Shahryar said as he lamented the unwelcoming attitude of his hosts.

“After the Shiv Sena protest I received a call from the BCCI saying the talks have been cancelled. I waited for the Indian board to call or send a message on whether they were going to reschedule the talks, but in vain.”

The former diplomat refuted suggestions that Pakistan was desperate for a bilateral series with India, instead, Shahryar said he wanted better cricketing relations between two of the sport’s heavyweights. “The Indian government and its board have been hijacked by a small minority but the majority wants a series with Pakistan. We will not run after the Indian board.”

On the current status of the Pakistan-India series, agreed upon in a memorandum of understanding between the two countries, Shahryar said he had little hope and that it was up to the BCCI.

“Right now there is little hope in this series. However, we have to wait for a formal ‘No’ from the BCCI. Only then, we will decide our future course,” he added. “If the BCCI does not get back to us on the revival of Pak-India series within 10 days, it will be presumed that they do not want to play Pakistan and after that we will decide our team’s participation in World Twenty-20.”

Pakistan pull out of blind cricket tourney

In the wake of threats from Shiv Sena activists against Pakistani actors, singers and lately the PCB chairman, the national blind cricket team has refused to participate in the Asia Cricket Cup 2016 for the Blind which was due to be held in India.

“The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC), due to prevailing circumstances and security concerns of Pakistani nationals in India, has decided to pull out the Pakistan Blind Cricket Team from Asia Cup Cricket for the Blind, which is scheduled to be held in Kochi, India, from January 17 to 24, 2016,” read a media release by the PBCC.

ECP skips SAARC training conference

In a related development, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday said it would not participate in a South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) training conference over growing Pakistan-hostile sentiments in India.

The Saarc forum had invited ECP’s senior officers to a training conference scheduled to be held in India from November 17 to 26. An ECP spokesperson said the poll supervisory body had decided against sending its officers to the conference which would see participation of senior polling officers from Saarc member countries.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22nd, 2015.

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