| MUMBAI:
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has once again rejected the Pakistan Cricket
Board's (PCB) plea to shift Pakistan's share of the 2011 World Cup matches to
a neutral venue, including UAE. The
govering body, instead, has reaffirmed that the 14 matches taken away from the
country will be held in the other co-host countries namely India, Bangladesh and
Sri Lanka. "ICC
CWC 2011 Central Organising Committee has been asked to meet as soon as possible
and recommend to the ICC Board, venues within the other three host countries for
the 14 matches originally set for Pakistan," the ICC said in a statement.
Meanwhile,
IDI (ICC Development International), ICC's commercial wing, has also decided to
remove Lahore as the tournament’s administrative HQ, shifting it to Mumbai.
“The
Board remains committed to resolve this issue as soon as possible as there is
an urgent need to press on with arrangements for the ICC’s flagship event,
now less than two years away,” said ICC president David Morgan. Also,
the PCB has accepted the ICC Board’s offer made at its meeting in Perth in
January/February of a task team to help ensure Pakistan retains its position in
international cricket. The
task team will be led by ICC director Giles Clarke, chairman of the England and
Wales Cricket Board. It wll also include David Richardson, the ICC general manager
– cricket. The
terms of reference, including additional membership of the team, is still the
subject of discussion with the PCB chairman and will be confirmed and announced
by the ICC in due course. Morgan
added, “We are delighted that the PCB has accepted the ICC’s offer of
assistance as we seek to ensure that Pakistan is not isolated as a result of circumstances
beyond the control of its cricket administrators."
"We
look forward to working with the PCB over the coming months
on this issue," he aversed.
Also
Read:
Discussions
to continue between ICC, Pakistan Cricket Board on 19 June
ICC
moves cricket World Cup out of Pakistan
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