Govt seeks explanation from PCB on Indian misadventure

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials' recent misadventure in India has taken a fresh turn as the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) has sought an explanation from the board on whether its ill-planned trip was backed and supported by the authorities concerned in Pakistan.

In an explanation letter addressed to the PCB, IPC Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Peerzada has taken serious notice of the PCB Chairman Shaharyar M Khan and other officials’ recent trip to India. The letter sought an explanation from the Board’s top brass, asking them to furnish details as to whether the board had prior permission from concerned authorities, including the prime minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of IPC, to undertake such a tour.

Only the other day, during the Tajjamul Abbas tennis prize distribution ceremony in Islamabad, the minister to a question promised to check the details of the ill-planned trip to India that resulted in Hindu extremists sabotaging the meeting between the two cricketing board heads.

A Ministry of IPC handout issued on Monday said that the ministry had taken serious notice of the PCB chairman’s planned meeting with the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Shahsank Manohar in Mumbai which could not take place.

"The ministry has sought an explanation along with the details of the incident from the Pakistan Cricket Board. The PCB management has been asked to clarify as to whether or not the Foreign Office was consulted beforehand. Furthermore, whether prior permission from the prime minister (Patron-in-Chief of PCB), was taken or not. It is a serious matter and needs to be explored thoroughly."

Mian Riaz Hussain Peerzada said that in the backdrop of tensions between the two countries, such decisions should only be taken after due deliberations with all the stakeholders. "Before such high level negotiations, the PCB leadership should have taken into account the hostile Indian environment and possible security threats."

He said that the ill treatment of PCB top officials by the BCCI was utterly undesirable and had brought disgrace. "It was the responsibility of the BCCI management to pre-empt a protest or any attempt of disruption."

The minister also emphasized that the sports federations/boards under the patronage of prime minister or president should be all the more cautious in such matters, especially when it comes to touring India.

The Pakistan Sports Board is also being directed to incorporate the representation of PSB in matters involving other countries to avoid such mishaps in future.—Originally published in The News