PCB Left Red-Faced Over Compensation Claim From BCCI

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has found itself in an embarrassing position over its plans to seek compensation from the BCCI for not honouring the MOU signed between the two countries to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023.

Former chairman Shaharyar Khan left the PCB in a awkward position when he told the media in Lahore this week that Pakistan had a weak case against the BCCI and was unlikely to get compensation.

He said that Pakistan's case was weak since the MOU contained a clause that all series between the two countries will be subject to government clearance. The BCCI has constantly maintained that it can't play Pakistan until its government gives clearance for bilateral cricket.

Ironically it was during Shaharyar's tenure few months ago that the PCB's board of governors had approved filing the compensation claim with the ICC's disputes resolution committee and also seeking USD 70 million in compensation. Shaharyar and the BOG also approved USD 1 million to cover the legal expenses involved in filing and contesting the case.

Soon after Shaharyar's comments were carried by the media, the PCB apparently put pressure on the former Chairman to change his stance with present chairman Najam Sethi also tweeting a clarification from his predecessor denying that he ever said Pakistan's case against India was weak.

Shaharyar issued a signed statement in which he said: "I strongly deny a statement attributed to me in the media in which I am supposed to have said that the PCB's case against the BCCI is weak.

"How could I say such a thing when, in fact, as Chairman and with the approval of the PCB's Board of Governors, I authorised preparation of a case on the advice of PCB's lawyers and a prominent QC in the UK who agreed that PCB had a strong case against India.

"The media must not distort my remarks and hurt the position of the PCB," said Shaharyar.

But worse was to come for the PCB when video footage was aired by TV channels and put on the social media in which Shaharyar is saying that in some aspects the PCB case for compensation is weak.

"Because there is written (in the MoU) that the series will be held with the approval of both the governments (India and Pakistan), and they (BCCI) can cite that and say we can't come as our government is not giving us the NoC."