ID :
16886
Sun, 08/24/2008 - 23:16
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/16886
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PCB to request ICC Board to defer decision on CT for a week
will Sunday ask the International Cricket Council (I.C.C.) Executive Board to defer a decision on the Champions Trophy for a week to get time for its government to exert diplomatic pressure on the four countries not willing to send their teamsto Pakistan.
The I.C.C. Board members will have a teleconference today to take a final call on the fate of Champions Trophy amid reports that Australia, England and New Zealand have decided to follow suit of South Africa in pulling out of thetournament.
Well placed sources in the P.C.B. told PTI that the Pakistan government has assured that it will exert diplomatic pressure on the four countries after Board officials met topranking officials in Islamabad Saturday.
"Apparently Australia, New Zealand and England have also unofficially conveyed to the I.C.C. they wouldn't be sending their teams. We now want a week's delay in the final decision as the government says it will get involved and use diplomaticchannels to convince the four countries," one source said.
"Sports minister Najmuddin Khan and top officials will meet ambassadors of the four countries and try to convince them that the government is committed to providing the highestlevel of security for participating teams," the source added.
Cricket South Africa has already announced that it can't send its team for the Champions Trophy in present security situation in Pakistan. Australia, New Zealand and England arealso expected to convey a similar decision to the ICC.
Meanwhile, P.C.B. Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi met top officials in Islamabad yesterday and discussed with them the security concerns of the four countries and even mulled on shifting the tournament to Sharjah, Dubai and AbuDhabi with Pakistan remaining the hosts.
"A number of options were discussed in case Champions Trophy is to be shifted from Pakistan or postponed. One of them is that Pakistan will remain hosts and in conjunction with the I.C.C. and organisers in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubaiwill hold the event there," the source said.
"This option is viable as the three Emirates states are also interested in such a proposal and they have facilities to host an international event if not immediately but in a few months time. Plus, the biggest thing is there are no securityissues or threats in these places," the source added.
The I.C.C. Board members will have a teleconference today to take a final call on the fate of Champions Trophy amid reports that Australia, England and New Zealand have decided to follow suit of South Africa in pulling out of thetournament.
Well placed sources in the P.C.B. told PTI that the Pakistan government has assured that it will exert diplomatic pressure on the four countries after Board officials met topranking officials in Islamabad Saturday.
"Apparently Australia, New Zealand and England have also unofficially conveyed to the I.C.C. they wouldn't be sending their teams. We now want a week's delay in the final decision as the government says it will get involved and use diplomaticchannels to convince the four countries," one source said.
"Sports minister Najmuddin Khan and top officials will meet ambassadors of the four countries and try to convince them that the government is committed to providing the highestlevel of security for participating teams," the source added.
Cricket South Africa has already announced that it can't send its team for the Champions Trophy in present security situation in Pakistan. Australia, New Zealand and England arealso expected to convey a similar decision to the ICC.
Meanwhile, P.C.B. Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi met top officials in Islamabad yesterday and discussed with them the security concerns of the four countries and even mulled on shifting the tournament to Sharjah, Dubai and AbuDhabi with Pakistan remaining the hosts.
"A number of options were discussed in case Champions Trophy is to be shifted from Pakistan or postponed. One of them is that Pakistan will remain hosts and in conjunction with the I.C.C. and organisers in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubaiwill hold the event there," the source said.
"This option is viable as the three Emirates states are also interested in such a proposal and they have facilities to host an international event if not immediately but in a few months time. Plus, the biggest thing is there are no securityissues or threats in these places," the source added.
