BCCI asks ICC to act, awaits govt nod on Pak tie
NEW DELHI: The Committee of Administrators-led BCCI’S strong posturing in the initial draft of its letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), demanding that Pakistan be banned from the World Cup, fizzled out on Friday as the apex cricket body decided to tone down its protest.
The Board, after Friday’s meeting of COA, requested the international “cricketing community to sever ties with countries from which terrorism emanates”. COA chief, Vinod Rai, later said: “We’re seeking to isolate Pakistan just like South Africa was during Apartheid.”
Though the Board in its final letter to ICC mentions the ‘dastardly attack on Indian soil made from terror outfits based in Pakistan’ it doesn’t mention the World Cup match with the archrivals. The letter expressed concerns over the safety and security of Indian players and fans in the World Cup to be played in the UK. “The BCCI trusts that the ICC and ECB will ensure that the most robust security is provided to players, match officials and fans of Indian cricket for the upcoming World Cup,” said the BCCI letter to cricket’s world body.
As pointed out by this paper earlier, the demand to ask that ICC ban Pakistan from the World Cup is being seen as absurd within the Board, and COA member Diana Edulji was against it.
It has been learnt that she put her foot down. The Board also refused to take a call on the India-pakistan World Cup
Please understand we still have three months’ time. We will abide by what the government says. We can’t comment on hypothetical situations.
VINOD RAI, COA chief on the June 16 Indo-pak match
match on June 16, putting the onus on the government.
COA head Vinod Rai told media on Friday, “No decision on India’s World Cup match against Pakistan. The 16th of June is very far away. We will take a call on that much later and in consultation with the government.
“Please understand we still have three months’ time. We will abide by what the government says. We can’t comment on hypothetical situations as we haven’t arrived at a decision.”
While the Board could discuss the match against Pakistan at a later date, the idea of pressing ICC for a ban on Pakistan is not on the immediate agenda. As reported by this paper on Friday, some office-bearers felt banning Pakistan isn’t easy and has to be made by the ICC Board.
As per the ICC constitution, they can’t be barred from the World Cup. Under Clause 2.3, which talks about rights of the members, point (H) states, “Each member being entitled (subject to meeting any qualification criterion) to participate in certain cricket events organised or sanctioned by the ICC.”
Under the clause, ICC also safeguards each member’s right to vote. “This situation is symptomatic of the working within the Board. Decisions are taken without even understanding the gravity of the situation,” said an office-bearer.