Former ICC President Ehsan Mani wants Pakistan Cricket Board to stop going to the ICC with a begging bowl
Former ICC President Ehsan Mani recently compared the Pakistan Cricket Board with beggars and advised them to curtail and control their expenses. “It is shameful what the PCB has done. It is very disappointing. Instead of going to the ICC with a begging bowl the PCB should curtail and control its expenses,” he said in an interview regarding Pakistan’s decision to request the ICC to set up a special fund for Pakistan cricket to offset revenue losses suffered due to international teams not touring the country. He also stated that the recent terrorist attacks in Dhaka would make it difficult for Bangladesh Cricket Board to host matches, a similar situation faced by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
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Around 20 foreigners were killed and several others were injured during the terrorist attack in Dhaka last week. The incident immediately put clouds over England’s tour of Bangladesh scheduled to played in September this year.
As per the reports in an interview taken, Ehsan Mani said, “After what happened in Dhaka I fear that like Pakistan and Bangladesh board will also find it difficult to convince teams to tour their country.”
“Don’t forget West Indies Under-19 team returned home from Bangladesh due to security concerns some years back while Australia also pulled out of the ICC Youth World Cup this year. I have said before the PCB must stop government interference and take strong decisions. It should refuse to play India in ICC events until the BCCI changes its policy on bilateral series” Mani added.
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Mani also feels that if the Bangladesh cricket Board manages to persuade teams to play in their country, it would raise a huge question on the ability of the Pakistan Cricket Board to handle the situations. Teams around the world had stopped touring Pakistan since the Sri-Lankan team was attacked back in 2009.
The former ICC president also feels that the expenses of the board can be controlled by improving its organisational structure and by stopping government interference in its affairs. He said,”If the PCB is indeed facing a financial crisis it can take a number of steps to cope with the situation. They are nearly 1000 employees in the board, is there need for this.”