FICA Chief against series in Pakistan – Cricket News update
The Chief Executive of the Federation of the International Cricketers' Association is unhappy over ICC’s acquiescence to the proposed Pak-Bangladesh series to be played in Pakistan next Month. Tim May, the FICA chief, wants the ICC to actively stop the series and ask the participating nations to postpone it indefinitely.
International cricket remains suspended in Pakistan since March 2009, when gunmen attacked the visiting Sri Lankan team in Lahore. Pakistan has become a no-go zone for international cricket and even the Pakistani team has been forced to play its home series at neutral venues like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013.
Pakistani cricket officials have been trying hard for the revival of international cricket at home and their efforts were rewarded recently when BCB representatives expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements in Pakistan for the proposed limited overs series next month.
Both PCB and BCB wanted the ICC to approve the series and appoint its representatives to officiate the tournament. However, ICC took a cautious stance by stating that it did not hold the responsibility to approve any cricket series.
The ICC had shown its intent to passively support the series in Pakistan by allowing non-neutrals officials.
“The CEC agreed to recommend to the ICC Board that, from a cricket perspective only, the granting of the special dispensation would be justified,” the ICC statement said.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 even before the BCB had decided to tour Pakistan. Similarly, he has criticized the ICC’s decision to provide ‘special dispensation’ in case the participating countries agree to play but the security situation is found to be unsafe.
“It is concerning to hear that on the one hand the ICC will not be sending its match officials, because its specialist advice is that it is not safe to tour Pakistan, but on the other hand the ICC will consider a proposal to amend the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Playing Conditions so as to give the series ICC recognition and endorsement,” stated Tim May.
It is clear that the FICA chief is not only against cricket in Pakistan but at the same time wants to prevent the ICC from granting any flexibility in this regard. He also added that negative security reports for Pakistan have been received by FICA as well as through an independent report commissioned by it in 2011.
Tim has categorically called for postponement of the upcoming Pak-Bangladesh series. Since ICC has ruled out its jurisdiction regarding approval or denial of any series, Tim’s wish might not be fulfilled. However, as chief executive of an important cricketing body, his opinion might influence ICC’s future decisions.
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