PCB's solicitors to respond to ECB letter

Karachi:

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday said it had instructed its solicitors in London to respond in detail to ECB's letter, demanding an apology from PCB chief Ijaz Butt for making fixing allegations against English players during the third ODI at the Oval on September 17.

Butt, who caused a storm after his remarks to Indian and Pakistani television channels, also appeared to be distancing himself from the allegations.

The PCB in a press release said that it had received a letter from English solicitors, acting for those who represented England at the last Friday's ODI, in connection with statements said to have been made by Butt.

"In this letter multiple demands have been raised. The Board has instructed London lawyers, Addleshaw Goddard, to respond on its behalf to these demands," PCB said in a statement.

Incidentally, the England and Wales Cricket Board had demanded a "full and unreserved apology" from Butt for his allegations.

The ECB had said that if Butt did not give a satisfactory response to the letter, legal proceedings will be commenced against him without further notice.

The former PCB chairman Tauqir Zia said Butt should apologise to the ECB for his remarks.

"This is time to take damage control steps and if there is a need he should apologise to the ECB who have every right to feel offended after the way they have supported Pakistan cricket," Zia said.