Ehsan Mani slams PCB's stance on World XI T20s ? Cricket News ...

Ehsan Mani slams PCB?s stance on World XI T20s ? Cricket News Update

Former ICC chief Ehsan Mani has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board for failing to support the recent initiative by the Sindh government in Pakistan to bring about a revival of international cricket in the country, claiming the board?s disassociation with the World XI T20s will send out the wrong message.

?I was disappointed to read that the PCB had disassociated itself from the matches,? said Mani. ?This gives totally the wrong message. The PCB should have been very much involved, including assuring itself that adequate security arrangements are in place. It is disgraceful that the initiative to convince players to come to Pakistan is not being led by the PCB but by the Sindh government.?

International cricket deserted Pakistan after the visiting Sri Lankan team found themselves the victims of a terrorist attack in March 2009, en route to the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore. Resulting in the deaths of civilians, with several players from the visiting squad suffering injuries, Pakistan?s status as a venue for international cricket was called into question, and the country has not hosted an international match since.

The resumption of international cricket in Pakistan has always been high on the agenda of the PCB. However, surprisingly, the board has completely disassociated itself from a recent 2-match exhibition T20 series, due to be played on October 20 and 21 at the National Stadium in Karachi, between a Pakistan Stars XI and an International XI.

The event, which marks the first visit of international players to the country since 2009, has been labelled unofficial and unsanctioned by the PCB, and has been organised entirely by Sindh sports minister Dr Mohammad Ali Shah with the support of the local government in Karachi. While the event is a small but encouraging development in bringing cricket back to Pakistan, the lack of official backing from the PCB and ICC is sure to dent its impact.

Dubbing the PCB?s overall approach to reviving international cricket in the country as ?flawed?, Mani claimed the board was ignorant when it came to understanding the political nuances of cricket, and the hidden agendas which might cause some countries to pressurise others to not tour Pakistan.

He slammed the board for their shoddy handling of the attempt to get Bangladesh to tour Pakistan earlier this year, claiming the board needed to organise small events, such as the current International XI tour, before inviting Test-playing nations.

He also went on to suggest that the PCB needed to chalk out a plan with the ICC, regarding what assurances were required before international teams and ICC officials would consider it safe to visit Pakistan, in addition to carrying out an inquiry into the 2009 attacks, in order to identify and punish the individuals responsible for the debacle.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/Ehsan-Mani-slams-PCBs-stance-on-World-XI-T20s-Cricket-News-Update-a196222

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