SETHI RAISES ‘PERMISSION’ ISSUE AT MEET

Kolkata: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi on Monday questioned BCCI’s decision of not incorporating the “permission from central government” clause in the alleged contract to play bilateral series that was inked between the two neighbours. While BCCI brass has always termed the one-page letter signed by both boards as merely an ‘Expression of Interest’ (EOI) to play five series in eight years between 2015 to 2023, Pakistan refers to it as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The PCB has sought $70 million in compensation claim against India for refusing to play a bilateral series, violating a 2014 memorandum of understanding under which the two were to play six bilateral series between 2015 and 2023. A three-member ICC panel will hear the claim in October. Right now, the two countries only play in multi-team events like 50-over World Cup, Champions Trophy, World T20 or Asia Cup. “If India comes to Pakistan, they want security and viceversa because of the political situation. But there is no security issue if we play in a third country, which is what we have been saying. We play our home games in the UAE,” Sethi said during an interaction. “But apparently the BCCI is having difficulty in ensuring that they can do that. They say they don’t have government permission. Our position is that why should you require government permission? We don’t take government permission. The ICC does not want interference from the government in affairs of cricket boards,” Sethi tried to drive home his point. “In any case, when you were signing the contract, if government permission was such a major issue, you should have put it in the contract, you did not. So what is the problem,” he further questioned. “Firstly, the two sides need to play each other for the sake of the people of the sub-continent. Secondly, the ball is in the BCCI’s court. That’s it. We hope sooner than later better sense will prevail and the two sides can get back to playing good cricket again.” “So the two issues before the tribunal are whether there is a contract that India has to honour and if there is one, then what is the claim for damages. So those two questions are going to be discussed,” he added. “Currently the situation is, we have submitted our preliminary position in writing. The Indians have not yet submitted their position in writing, they are still looking at our position and asking various questions,” Sethi explained the current position. — AP