Two issues will be discussed in ICC’s board meeting on Friday.
Pakistan’s chances to co-host the world cup after Lahore attack.
The future of ICL players and the implementation of new ICL laws against the un authorised league and its players.
PCB officials are vowing that they will be resisting every move to relocate its matches to another country and are also claiming that they do enjoy the support of other Asian members on the issue. Any decision of the ICC executive board is required to be passed by votes of 7-3 and if the Asian countries were together they had four votes.
I don’t think that the Asian boards are united on the subject.
Chances are that the sub continent might altogether lose the hosting rights as security problems exist through out the region.The political stand off between India and Pakistan has seriously damaged the unity of the Asian group in ICC and hence reduced the chances of the cup to be held in Subcontinent.
Pakistan has no realistic chance to co-host any of the world cup match on its soil as most member countries do not want to send their teams to Pakistan after the Lahore attack, the discussion will mainly focus on finding alternate venues for the matches which were going to be played in Pakistan.
Chances are that Pakistan’s matches will be relocated to Bangladesh or SriLanka and PCB will be financially compensated. The chances of India to host Pakistan’s matches are slim due to the current political stand off between the two countries.
I think that the WC 2011 should be held outside of the subcontinent, the whole region has security problems and right now the environment is not right for such a big sporting event, things can get better in two years but its better to be safe than sorry.
The board members will also discuss the future of ICL and its players. It is being proposed that all players who will revoke their contracts before June 1st will get a 1 year cooling period before they can play again for their country.
It’s a stupid suggestion and in my opinion ICC and its members are losing a good opportunity to get rid of ICL.
ICL has not paid to its players for the last six months they also canceled this year’s addition of the league, the league is facing financial problems. Since the league is not paying it’s players, the players can revoke their contracts right now because of withholding of payments. ICC should have facilitated their move back into official cricket rather than imposing this 1 year cooling period punishment. In my opinion ICC is losing an opportunity here.
This cooling period punishment will leave the players no choice but to go back to ICL. PCB should strongly resist this new law.
Abdul/Danish
After the Lahore attacks nobody can say that the Playing environment is not dangerous in Pakistan, In my opinion PCB should have withdrawn from the tournament themselves. Right now PCB should take a firm stance only on one issue that they should not get discriminated regarding the security problems as the whole subcontinent is plagued with it, the same set of standards should be used by ICC to evaluate the security for the whole region and a uniform policy to review security threats and protocols should be introduced.
ICC has striped Pakistan of 2011 WC matches, it was expected that ICC would take such a decision, it’s a fair decision but a bit discriminatory as security problems exist through out the region. Pakistan should focus on improving the security and political level in the country. PCB should improve domestic cricket and should ensure that Pakistan team remains a major team in international cricket.
ICC also refused recognition to ICL but gave authority to the respective boards to decide on the future of ICL players, it’s not clear yet if the 1 year cooling period guideline for such players still remains in effect or not, if it has been lifted then PCB should let bygones be bygones and should give central contract to all those ICL players who have some cricket left in them and are willing to revoke their ICL contract and can give a guarantee that they will not participate in the unofficial league in future.
Yes I agree that Pakistan isn’t a hostile environment for holding such global events. People have always been raising eyebrows but the March atrocities have firmly demonstrated those above implications. It’s a nation simply in social turmoil and the centre face of terrorist threats.Although I feel for the patriotic fans to lose out on such an opportunity, the governing bodies had to give security and safety of player’s and fans priority.