| MUMBAI:
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the legal claims initiated
last week by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) concerning the hosting of matches
in the ICC Cricket World Cup (ICC CWC) 2011.
The
response sought to clarify factual inaccuracies and misunderstandings in the PCB’s
claim. In
particular, it confirmed the ICC Board had not decided to remove the PCB as a
joint host of the event, but only that the matches assigned to the PCB should
be played outside Pakistan. Commenting
on the response, ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said, “We are naturally disappointed
that the PCB has chosen to pursue its grievance with the ICC through legal channels
but, having received correspondence from its lawyers, we have now responded."
Lorgat
elaborated, “The ICC Cricket World Cup is our flagship event. It generates
the majority of ICC event income for our great sport and without that income many
of those Members would struggle to operate or grow the game in the way they are
currently able to. “Given
that fact, we need to deliver a tournament that is safe, secure and, above all,
successful and it was on that basis that the decision was taken that matches could
not be played in Pakistan.
“We
hope that the PCB will reflect on this matter, withdraw its
spurious claims and, as a responsible Full Member, engage
with us in an appropriate manner."
Also
Read:
ICC
moves cricket World Cup out of Pakistan
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