IPC Minister asks PCB to explain

ISLAMABAD, Nov 2 (APP): Federal Minister for Inter Provincial
Coordination (IPC) Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada on Monday sought explanation from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding their meeting with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that was cancelled due to protest of Shiv Sena activists last month.
Before scheduled meeting of PCB and BCCI last month, Shiv Sena
activists stormed the board’s headquarters at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai
ending up to cancellation of the meeting.
However, in a letter to PCB, BCCI had expressed regrets for the
incident. BCCI had also conveyed to the PCB that they had approached the
Indian government to obtain definitive guidance on reviving bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan.
Meanwhile the IPC Minister has taken serious notice of the issue and
has sought explanation along with the details of the incident from PCB.
The Minster said PCB management had been asked to clarify as to
whether or not the Foreign Office was consulted beforehand, says a press
release issued here.
“Whether a prior permission from the Prime Minister (Patron in Chief of
PCB), was taken or not,” he said.
The Minister said that in the backdrop of tensions between the two
countries, such decisions should only be taken after due deliberation with all stakeholders.
“Before such high level negotiations, the PCB leadership should have
taken into account the Indian hostile environment and possible security
threats,” he said.
He said that the ill treatment of PCB top officials by BCCI was
utterly undesirable and had brought disgrace.
“It was the responsibility of the BCCI management to preempt a protest or any attempt of disruption,” he said.
The Minister also emphasized that the sports federations and boards
under the patronage of Prime Minister or President should be all the more
cautious in such matters.
He also directed the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to incorporate the
representation of PSB in matters involving other countries to avoid such
mishaps in the future.