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Pak govt told PCB to take legal action against ICC
It was on the directives of the government that the PCB decided to initiate legal action against the ICC for shifting the 2011 World Cup.
Karachi:
Sports Minister Aftab Shah Jillani on Sunday disclosed that it was on the directives of the government that the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to initiate legal action against the International Cricket Council for shifting the 2011 World Cup matches from the country.
"Like everyone else, the government was also very disappointed at the ICC decision to shift the World Cup matches from Pakistan and the sports ministry directed the board to adopt legal recourse against the ICC," Jillani was quoted as saying by the Express newspaper on Sunday.
So far, the general impression has been that former ICC President Ehsan Mani had advised the PCB to legally challenge the ICC decision to shift the matches.
Jillani also said that he has informed President Asif Zardari that the board had not done its homework to keep the matches in Pakistan.
"I don't think the board did enough to stop the ICC from moving the matches from Pakistan," he added.
The PCB has, in its legal challenge, also claimed that the agenda for the ICC meeting in April didn't include the shifting of matches from Pakistan for security reasons and the decision came out of a blue for them.
The report also quoted Jillani as saying that the board needed to utilise the government foreign missions abroad and the former Test players of repute to fight Pakistan's case at the international level.
"Just attending meetings does not serve any purpose. I think sooner or later the board must use well known former players and our missions abroad to get international cricket back in the country," he said.
The minister also said that he was disappointed with the attitude of the ICC.
"The ICC must deal with all its members equally which they have not done in Pakistan's case," he said.
Jillani also made it clear that Pakistani players would only be allowed to go and play in India once the foreign affairs ministry gave the clearance.
"I am sure once relations improve with India, the ministry will clear the players to play in India," he said.
Pakistani players were unable to take part in the second IPL season when it was originally planned in India.
"Like everyone else, the government was also very disappointed at the ICC decision to shift the World Cup matches from Pakistan and the sports ministry directed the board to adopt legal recourse against the ICC," Jillani was quoted as saying by the Express newspaper on Sunday.
So far, the general impression has been that former ICC President Ehsan Mani had advised the PCB to legally challenge the ICC decision to shift the matches.
Jillani also said that he has informed President Asif Zardari that the board had not done its homework to keep the matches in Pakistan.
"I don't think the board did enough to stop the ICC from moving the matches from Pakistan," he added.
The PCB has, in its legal challenge, also claimed that the agenda for the ICC meeting in April didn't include the shifting of matches from Pakistan for security reasons and the decision came out of a blue for them.
The report also quoted Jillani as saying that the board needed to utilise the government foreign missions abroad and the former Test players of repute to fight Pakistan's case at the international level.
"Just attending meetings does not serve any purpose. I think sooner or later the board must use well known former players and our missions abroad to get international cricket back in the country," he said.
The minister also said that he was disappointed with the attitude of the ICC.
"The ICC must deal with all its members equally which they have not done in Pakistan's case," he said.
Jillani also made it clear that Pakistani players would only be allowed to go and play in India once the foreign affairs ministry gave the clearance.
"I am sure once relations improve with India, the ministry will clear the players to play in India," he said.
Pakistani players were unable to take part in the second IPL season when it was originally planned in India.
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