PCB issues legal notice to ICC for World Cup exclusion

[DomainK]

In the first official response to the ICC's decision to exclude Pakistan from hosting the 2011 World Cup, the Pakistan board has issued a legal notice to cricket's governing body, calling the decision to do so discriminatory and "legally flawed." The ICC decided at a recent board meeting in Dubai to take away Pakistan's share, as one of four co-hosts, of the World Cup matches. The move came after terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team during their February-March tour, which was itself the first major bilateral contest in Pakistan since October 2007. A number of teams since then had refused to visit in the wake of an unsettled and increasingly violent domestic backdrop. The meeting also said that international cricket was unlikely to return to Pakistan till 2011. Ijaz Butt, chairman of PCB, had hitherto maintained a stony silence on the decision, to the ire of much of the population here. But at a press conference at the board's HQ in Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, flanked by senior officials and legal advisors, he said that the manner in which the ICC decision was taken was "legally flawed...unfair and discriminatory" and that Pakistan intended to fight for its right as co-host. The notice has been sent through its legal advisors Mark Gay, of DLA Piper, and Tafazzul Rizvi, the PCB's legal consultant. "We are most concerned about the manner in which the ICC took this decision," Butt said. "There was no notice prior to the meeting that a decision of this nature would be taken. There was no proper security assessment of Pakistan nor of the other Co-Hosts of the 2011 Tournament. We believe that more could and should have been done to review the actual situation to deal with the matter on a non-discriminatory basis. We will push for the matter to be expedited." In particular, Pakistan's gripe, Butt clarified, was that the status of the 2011 World Cup was not on the original agenda of the ICC Board meeting on April 17 and 18 (when the decision was made). The implication is that Pakistan wasn't given a fair opportunity to defend its case as a co-host. "This issue was not on the agenda," Butt said. "There was a discussion of the Sri Lankan attacks on the agenda and this topic came up. They never gave us notice and it was not on the agenda. We want to revoke the decision full stop." Butt repeatedly pointed to what he claimed were also uncertain security environments in the other co-hosts - India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - and said that provisions are in place for such decisions to be taken as late as 18 months before an ICC event, something that would have given the board time to prepare a security plan and for inspections to be carried out. It is the absence of this process, more than anything else, which has seemingly spurred the PCB's move to send a legal notice. The legal notice has been sent to the ICC president David Morgan and under the ICC's constitution, the PCB is asking for the matter to be referred to the disputes resolution committee. "The matter has been submitted to the president of the ICC's dispute resolution committee. He can either refer the matter to the dispute resolution committee which is made up of ICC's officials or to the independent arbitration before the court of arbitration sport court. The PCB prefer impartial arbitration in the interest of justice, equity and fairplay." If the disputes resolution committee fails to come up with a satisfactory solution, the option to take the case further remains. "There are two options with the disputes resolution committee," Salim Altaf, the board's chief operating officer, told Cricinfo. "Normally all disputes are resolved there. But if there is no satisfactory resolution, then the case can be sent to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), in Lausanne, Switzerland." Ratification of the ICC's decision was expected to take place at the annual board meeting in June, though now that no longer seems a foregone conclusion. Source: Cricinfo

[Desi Cartman]

cant blame the PCB officials , they have nothing to do for the next 7 years .. they are just trying to stay busy by writing letters here n there

[EnterTheVoid]

Shukhriah on doing everything in your power to alienate yourself from the rest of the cricketing world I hope this is the final nail in the coffin and no country ever tours there again, not now, not ever

[h4te]

:bootyshake::bootyshake::bootyshake::bootyshake::bootyshake::bootyshake::bootyshake::bootyshake::bootyshake::bootyshake:

[vvvslaxman]

Do they all share one brain? Players/officials/commentators.. et al. Jeez. this is getting beyond ridiculous.

[Macj]

On paper its an easy enough decision , but truth be told the technical aspect of this decision of ICCs puts PCB in a strong footing to win the case.

[DomainK]

On paper its an easy enough decision ' date=' but truth be told the technical aspect of this decision of ICCs puts PCB in a strong footing to win the case.[/quote'] So PCB will win and then ICC will kick them out in a more formal way? They would then set a date for formally kicking PCB's butt. Then they would send a notice saying "Dear PCB officials, we at the ICC have set the following date for collectively kicking your ass. Officials of all the member boards will be present to participate . Please bring all your asses so that we could kick them to satisfaction." Then I guess PCB will be happy.

[Macj]

So PCB will win and then ICC will kick them out in a more formal way? They would then set a date for formally kicking PCB's butt. Then they would send a notice saying "Dear PCB officials, we at the ICC have set the following date for collectively kicking your ass. Officials of all the member boards will be present to participate . Please bring all your asses so that we could kick them to satisfaction." Then I guess PCB will be happy.

Not sure if they'll win but if this goes to the Arbitration Court in Lausanne you can expect a very sympathetic verdict. The ICC messed up by not including this topic in their agenda and it will be presented as an intentional blindside to bring an already bankrupt PCB to their knees.

[EnterTheVoid]

So Ijaz, how big do you like it ? :--D

[veer]

cant blame the PCB officials ' date=' they have nothing to do for the next 7 years .. they are just trying to stay busy by writing letters here n there[/quote'] :cantstop::cantstop: i was laughing at when i first heard the news.. but you made me see this through different angle.. yeahh PCB shouldnt be blamed..

[vvvslaxman]

Million dollar question is will Pakistan be ruled by a Pakistani by the time next world cup arrives. Taliban will have completed their last phase of taking over of Pakistan. Their task "PROJECT PAKISTAN" will be over.

[Rajiv]

They will place it in Spam Mail

[King]

OK ICC will hear to Pakistan's plea, the court will rule it in Pakistan's favour and players get shot at. Good work Pakistan. These are only probabilities and will never happen. ICC will treat Pakistan as a joke and will distant them even more from world cricket. Pakistan cricket's death is written all over the statement from PCB.

[vvvslaxman]

Australia has been treating them as pariah for a decade. It is stupid of PCB to expect that to change after PCB used Srilankan cricketers as practice targets for terrorits.

[ViruRulez]

They will place it in Spam Mail

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

[ViruRulez]

Pakistan has distanced itself from the cricketing world by suing ICC... they will be kicked by even ICC at every given chance after they have been sued .. the beggars will be completely isolated now and PCB seems to be working hard to achieve this .. I think they are working more hard to get themselves kicked out of world cricket than even KKR trying to lose matches

[EnterTheVoid]

Nobody likes the start of the week. The Mondays' are here :-D

[rahulrulezz]

I am surprized about this decision... Wait and watch, ICC might sue PCB for their incompetence in providing security to an international team

[Sachin_Rulez]

Can we move this thread to jokes section??

[vvvslaxman]

Can we move this thread to jokes section??

:haha: