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ICC clears air over PCB's claims
Cricinfo staff
May 14, 2009
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat at a press conference after a World Cup meeting, Mumbai, April 28, 2009
Haroon Lorgat: "The ICC board's decision that matches in the World Cup could not be played in Pakistan was taken on the basis of what was best for all 104 of the ICC's members" AFP
The ICC today confirmed it had responded formally by rejecting the legal claims initiated last week by the PCB concerning the hosting of the 2011 World Cup matches. A response from ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat sought to clarify factual inaccuracies and misunderstandings in the PCB claim. The ICC board also confirmed that it had not decided to remove the PCB as a co-host of the event, but only that the matches assigned to the PCB should be played outside Pakistan.
Lorgat said he was disappointed that the PCB has chosen to pursue its grievance with the ICC through legal channels. "We used our response to clarify inaccuracies and misunderstandings in the PCB's claim, including confirmation of the fact that the agenda and the board papers for the recent ICC board meetings did very specifically raise the question of whether the 2011 World Cup matches assigned to the PCB as joint hosts should be relocated outside of Pakistan," Lorgat said.
"We also pointed out that the ICC board agreed only that the World Cup matches should be moved away from Pakistan, not that the PCB should be removed from its position as a joint host of the event itself. The suggestion the ICC board was not empowered to decide that matches should be moved away from Pakistan and that such a decision was 'legally flawed' is also incorrect and without foundation."
As the ICC board is the policy-making body for international cricket and has broad powers under its constitution, not only is it entitled to make a decision on this matter but it has a responsibility to do so on behalf of all its members. "The ICC board's decision that matches in the World Cup could not be played in Pakistan was a sad one to have to take but it was taken on the basis of what was best for all 104 of the ICC's members," Lorgat said.
"The 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."
Lorgat also hoped that the PCB would withdraw its claims and, as a responsible full member, engage with the ICC in an appropriate manner. "We hope it realises that by attempting to pursue the matter through legal channels, it will result in the diversion of funds and resources better served to ensure a safe, secure and successful tournament in 2011, something that will benefit all our members, including Pakistan."
The PCB served a legal notice to the ICC after cricket's governing body had stripped Pakistan of its rights to co-host the 2011 World Cup, following the terrorist attack in Lahore when gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus. On Tuesday, the PCB sent a letter to Michael Beloff, president of the ICC Disputes Resolution Committee, to refer the matter to the CAS.
It also filed a case in a Lahore court against the ICC's decision to move the headquarters of the 2011 World Cup from Lahore to Mumbai.
Cricinfo
ICC clears air over PCB's claims
Cricinfo staff
May 14, 2009
ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat at a press conference after a World Cup meeting, Mumbai, April 28, 2009
Haroon Lorgat: "The ICC board's decision that matches in the World Cup could not be played in Pakistan was taken on the basis of what was best for all 104 of the ICC's members" AFP
The ICC today confirmed it had responded formally by rejecting the legal claims initiated last week by the PCB concerning the hosting of the 2011 World Cup matches. A response from ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat sought to clarify factual inaccuracies and misunderstandings in the PCB claim. The ICC board also confirmed that it had not decided to remove the PCB as a co-host of the event, but only that the matches assigned to the PCB should be played outside Pakistan.
Lorgat said he was disappointed that the PCB has chosen to pursue its grievance with the ICC through legal channels. "We used our response to clarify inaccuracies and misunderstandings in the PCB's claim, including confirmation of the fact that the agenda and the board papers for the recent ICC board meetings did very specifically raise the question of whether the 2011 World Cup matches assigned to the PCB as joint hosts should be relocated outside of Pakistan," Lorgat said.
"We also pointed out that the ICC board agreed only that the World Cup matches should be moved away from Pakistan, not that the PCB should be removed from its position as a joint host of the event itself. The suggestion the ICC board was not empowered to decide that matches should be moved away from Pakistan and that such a decision was 'legally flawed' is also incorrect and without foundation."
As the ICC board is the policy-making body for international cricket and has broad powers under its constitution, not only is it entitled to make a decision on this matter but it has a responsibility to do so on behalf of all its members. "The ICC board's decision that matches in the World Cup could not be played in Pakistan was a sad one to have to take but it was taken on the basis of what was best for all 104 of the ICC's members," Lorgat said.
"The 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."
Lorgat also hoped that the PCB would withdraw its claims and, as a responsible full member, engage with the ICC in an appropriate manner. "We hope it realises that by attempting to pursue the matter through legal channels, it will result in the diversion of funds and resources better served to ensure a safe, secure and successful tournament in 2011, something that will benefit all our members, including Pakistan."
The PCB served a legal notice to the ICC after cricket's governing body had stripped Pakistan of its rights to co-host the 2011 World Cup, following the terrorist attack in Lahore when gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus. On Tuesday, the PCB sent a letter to Michael Beloff, president of the ICC Disputes Resolution Committee, to refer the matter to the CAS.
It also filed a case in a Lahore court against the ICC's decision to move the headquarters of the 2011 World Cup from Lahore to Mumbai.
Cricinfo
