ICC bans government meddling

HONG KONG: Cricket’s governing body on Thursday banned countries from appointing politicians to national cricket boards, vowing to free the sport from undue government influence.

The International Cricket Council told a media conference in Hong Kong that it had made the decision to uphold “the important principle of free elections and the independence” of the sport.

“It was agreed that all member boards must implement the provisions before annual conference June 2012 and a further 12 months — to June 2013 — would be allowed before any sanctions be considered,” the ICC said in a statement issued in Hong Kong.

The reform, which allows the ICC to suspend a member country in the event of government interference in the running of a national cricket board, will be hugely controversial in Pakistan, where the president is the cricket board’s patron. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will also be hit by the change.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could not immediately be reached for comment.

Chairman Ijaz Butt has been criticised by former players, politicians and media for being a political appointee of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party.

The PCB has already sent a legal notice to the ICC on the amendment and has threatened legal action if the constitution is changed.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the ICC’s full council after four days of talks between the chief executives’ committee and executive board at glitzy hotels in downtown Hong Kong.

“This is a significant step towards achieving best practice and together with the independent governance review, I am excited by the commitment of the ICC to introduce best possible corporate governance,” ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said. AGENCIES

Million dollars cost: ECB advised not to sue PCB Chairman

British legal advisors have advised ECB not to sue PCB Chairman Ijaz butt. They say it would cost more than a million dollars to ECB.
According to the British newspaper Daily Telegraph, legal advisors have told ECB that suing PCB chairman Ijaz Butt in an act of defamation would cost more than a million dollars, so better not to do it.
PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, after the allegation imposed on Pakistani cricketers by English media, had said, There is loud and clear talk in the bookies circle that some English players were paid enormous amounts of money to lose the (Oval) match. No wonder there was a total collapse of the English side.

Zaheer Abbas praises England

KARACHI: Pakistan great Zaheer Abbas praised England on Tuesday for not abandoning the series with Pakistan despite a tour blighted by mounting allegations of corruption.

“England cricket officials and players should be praised for their positive stance of continuing cricket with Pakistan despite the controversy,” Pakistan’s only player to score century of first-class hundreds told AFP.

Abbas’s words of appreciation came after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt linked England cricketers to match-fixing, causing uproar.

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) rejected Butt’s remarks as “wholly irresponsible and completely without foundation” but confirmed that England would play their two remaining one-day internationals against Pakistan.

Pakistan on Monday levelled the five-match series at 2-2. The final match is to be played in Southampton

South African Cricket Team Demanded 1 Year Extension in Series against Pakistan

After recent allegations of match fixing it is demanded by SA team that the home series against Pakistan that is to play on neutral ground should be extended for one year. They demanded that PCB itself of ICC should stop Pakistan for playing international cricket for 1 year. Pakistan team should come to play after clearing fixing allegations.

Pakistan and South Africa are scheduled to play at Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They are schedule to play 1 T-20, Five ODI’s and two test matches at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi and Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The demand came from South Africa at a time when Pakistan is going through a difficult phase of its cricket.

PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt is at Dubai and he was there to check the preparation of ground for the matches. PCB has already launched a protest to ICC. In that PCB said that ICC should have confidence on its members. England cricket coach said that England’s wins against Pakistan is also suspected after Pakistan is alleged for match and spot fixing. Former England Captain M Vaughn said that the tour of Pakistan team should be ended after so many controversies. Now PCB has to take some positive actions to control this difficult situation.

We will not show tolerance for the guilty, says Butt

ICC President Sharad Pawar and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt on Thursday said that Scotland Yard’s investigations into the spot-fixing charges against Pakistani cricketers would not take long and there was nothing to hide on this issue.
Till Scotland Yard probe is not over how can we comment on that? But if anything established we will take strong stand. Without information we should not jump into any conclusion, Pawar told reporters after a meeting with PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt at his residence in Delhi.
Butt claimed that the PCB was not offended with the ICC’s move to provisionally suspend the three cricketers – captain Salman Butt and pacer duo of Muhammad Aamir and Muhammad Asif. We are not offended for the decision. ICC asked them to individually answer and all of them have done so. If anyone is found guilty, we will not show any tolerance. ICC Code of Conduct is very clear regarding this matter, he said. We have talked about the three players, the Scotland Yard is investigating the matter. Till investigation is complete, neither we are commenting nor the ICC is commenting, Butt added.

Pawar maintains ICC’s tough stance against corruption

NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council is committed to maintaining the sanctity of the game and will strive to root out corruption, ICC President Sharad Pawar said on Thursday.

Pawar told reporters after a meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt at his New Delhi residence that the ICC had the support of all the national boards in its efforts to clean up the game.

Pawar’s comments come after three Pakistani cricketers — Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, were provisionally suspended amid accusations of spot-fixing.

“If someone has done anything wrong in cricket the ICC, and that includes the Pakistan board, will never tolerate any nonsense or any corruption in the game,” said Pawar.

“We try to maintain the sanctity of cricket and every board, including Pakistan, is fully supporting ICC.”

Butt said the PCB

Salman, Aamir, Asif meet PCB officials

LONDON: Facing the match-fixing allegations, three Pakistani players, Test captain Salman Butt, Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Aamir met PCB officials including Chairman Ijaz Butt on Thursday, Geo News reported.

However, players’ scheduled meeting with Pakistani High Commission in London Wajid Shamsul Hassan was delayed for a day due to anonymous reasons.

Now, this meeting will be held on Friday, featuring presence of PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, PCB sources said.

It was decided during the meeting with PCB officials that three players will join ODI squad in Taunton on Friday.

Shocking news for Pakistani fast bowler Mohammed Aamir appeared that a garment manufacturing company has called off ad agreement with bowler owing to spot-fixing charges.

Butt wants ICC event for Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt is keen that Pakistan should be given at least one ICC event after 2012 but the International Cricket Council (ICC) members have not responded certainly.

Original post: 
Butt wants ICC event for Pakistan

Waqar Made New Head Coach Of The National Team

Waqar Younis has officially been announced as the head coach of the national team today.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt has said that the appointment of Waqar Younis as head coach and Ijaz Ahmed as coach has been decided. The chairman PCB told that former fast bowler Waqar would be head coach of the national cricket team while Ijaz Ahmed would be assistant coach till 2011.

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Waqar Made New Head Coach Of The National Team was first posted on March 2, 2010 at 4:50 pm.

Chairman PCB skips day two of the ICC Board meeting

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt has returned home on President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari’s call, leaving the second day of the ICC’s board meeting in Dubai Headquarter.

Speculation has been floating that President of Pakistan – who is also the chief patron of PCB, has summoned Butt to explain the prevailing mismanagement in the cricket board – which as been mingling with several tainted issues.

Butt had attended the first day’s meeting Febuary 10, and the second was attended by PCB’s Chief Operating Officer Wasim Bari.

According to the reports, the agenda of the meeting is related to the draft constitution, which is currently being vetted by the law ministry. Federal Sports Minister Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani accompanied the PCB chief in his meetings with at the presidency.

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Chairman PCB skips day two of the ICC Board meeting

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Chairman PCB skips day two of the ICC Board meeting was first posted on February 13, 2010 at 11:56 am.

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