ISLAMABAD – Following his uncontested election as the Chairman PCB, EhsanMani has made PCB’s stance clear about the bilateral ties with the Board ofControl for Cricket in India (BCCI), saying that he will fight for Pakistan.
Pakistan has filed a case with the International Cricket Council (ICC)against India for not playing two bilateral series in 2014 and 2015 whichincurred a loss of $70 million. Despite signing an agreement as well as theseries slotted in the Future Tours Programme (FTP), BCCI backed away.
He bashed BCCI’s contradictory policies in terms of playing againstPakistan, saying that India refuses to play bilateral series but does notboycott Pakistan-India matches at major events.
I can tell you I will not request India to play with us. Their own policyhas been contradictory, as they are always ready to play in multi-nationtournaments like the Asia Cup and the World Cup but renege on bilateralarrangements.
The newly elected Chairman has made it clear that he will no longer askIndia to play matches with Pakistan, rather he will pursue the case filedagainst India by the previous Chairman Najam Sethi.
He says that he could have held the talks with Indian representatives hadit been a little earlier, however, now that the files have been sent to ICCby both parties regarding the case, PCB cannot hope for talks and back awayas it will make them look weak.
The case is scheduled to be heard from October 1-3, and Mani believes thatthe head of Dispute Committee Michael Beloff will not come under anyinfluence – BCCI’s influence in the ICC matters is well-known – and willplay the role of a strong arbitrator.
I never understood their positions and the basis of their policy. Even whenI was at the ICC, they used to threaten pulling out on ICC tournaments. Itold them that I could suspend their membership but in my position here, Iobviously can’t do that. The ICC since than has been quite different, withIndia’s influence far greater, but I will fight Pakistan’s corner.
He also hinted at revamping the domestic structure in line with ImranKhan’s vision.