LAHORE: After skipping the logo unveiling ceremony of the 2011 World Cup held in Mumbai recently, speculations are rife that Pakistan could boycott the mega event also.
According to sources, the Pakistan government is seriously considering to direct the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to boycott the 2011 World Cup in protest against the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to shift the World Cup matches from Pakistan due to security concerns.
It is pertinent to mention that the Indian government is being blamed for influencing the ICC’s decision and trying to alienate Pakistan. “I think the Indian government, with the help of three boards – Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sri Lanka Cricket and Bangladesh Cricket Board – is trying to isolate the PCB and therefore this decision at political level is not ruled out,” a source privy to the government was quoted as saying.
“On the government’s order, the BCCI has not signed the Future Tours Programme (FTP) against Pakistan. Yet they want to host World Cup matches for Pakistan,” he added. Meanwhile, the BCCI has ruled out any possibility of a bilateral series with Pakistan in the near future. BCCI president Shashank Manohar said the government has not allowed hosting any such series. “The Indian government is not giving a go ahead about this and therefore we have made no provision in FTP to play against Pakistan between 2012 to 2020,” said Manohar. In an another
development, PCB chief Ijaz Butt has been removed from the 2011 World Cup’s Central Organising Committee (COC). Ijaz has been replaced by Mahbubul Alam of Bangladesh.
According to sources, the Pakistan government is seriously considering to direct the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to boycott the 2011 World Cup in protest against the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to shift the World Cup matches from Pakistan due to security concerns.
It is pertinent to mention that the Indian government is being blamed for influencing the ICC’s decision and trying to alienate Pakistan. “I think the Indian government, with the help of three boards – Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sri Lanka Cricket and Bangladesh Cricket Board – is trying to isolate the PCB and therefore this decision at political level is not ruled out,” a source privy to the government was quoted as saying.
“On the government’s order, the BCCI has not signed the Future Tours Programme (FTP) against Pakistan. Yet they want to host World Cup matches for Pakistan,” he added. Meanwhile, the BCCI has ruled out any possibility of a bilateral series with Pakistan in the near future. BCCI president Shashank Manohar said the government has not allowed hosting any such series. “The Indian government is not giving a go ahead about this and therefore we have made no provision in FTP to play against Pakistan between 2012 to 2020,” said Manohar. In an another
development, PCB chief Ijaz Butt has been removed from the 2011 World Cup’s Central Organising Committee (COC). Ijaz has been replaced by Mahbubul Alam of Bangladesh.
Comments