Impossible for PCB working under Butt to restore international matches: Mani

Published>Thu, Aug 12 10 01:07 PM

Islamabad, Aug 12(ANI): Former International Cricket Council (ICC) President Ehsan Mani has said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would not be able to restore international matches in the country under the chairmanship of Ijaz Butt.

"There's a possibility of an international XI touring Pakistan within one year, but it's impossible for the present board working under Ijaz to fully revive international cricket in Pakistan," The Daily Times quoted Mani, as saying.

Leading cricket teams have refused to visit Pakistan following the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Lahore, which killed eight people, as well as injuring seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach.

Mani further said that nothing could be done until the PCB submits a report on the Lahore attack to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"Until this report is handed over to the ICC, revival of international cricket in Pakistan is impossible," he added.

He also stressed that the PCB officials should be accountable and provide complete independence to run the affairs.

"If the board is run like it is nowadays, it will affect the team's performance. There is lot of confusion in the decision making of the PCB which is also damaging country's image," Mani said.

Earlier, PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar had said that the board has sought the government's approval to forward the high-level review over the terror attack to the ICC.

A panel of Lahore High Court judges have compiled the report.

"It was a judicial inquiry and we require permission from the government to dispatch the report to ICC," Sarwar had said.

In the last two years, Pakistan 'home' games have also been staged in the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand.

Pakistan, which was due to co-host the 2011 World Cup, was also stripped of its matches following the attack on the Sri Lankan team.

Pakistan was supposed to hold 14 matches, including one semi-final. Eight of Pakistan's matches have been awarded to India, four to Sri Lanka and two to Bangladesh. (ANI)

Source: Web Search