PCB, ICC close to resolving World Cup impasse

Published: June 18, 2009

LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is banking on two very important factors in the ongoing row with the ICC over the hosting rights of 2011 World Cup matches - strength of its legal position and the possible understandings reached with BCCI's Sharad Pawar - ahead of the crucial June 19 meeting in London.
"The PCB voted in favour of Sharad Pawar for ICC president post (next year) and chairman Ijaz Butt has every reason to be optimistic", a source close to PCB chief said from London.
Butt is scheduled to meet the ICC bosses (David Morgan and Sharad Pawar) on Friday when the final decision on this pending issue is likely to be taken.
"The PCB is not asking for any favour. They may not agree to receive only the hosting fees without organising the allotted matches. The PCB is also likely to deny the offer of free hosting Pakistan matches in India and other countries," sources in the PCB said.
The ICC, only a day earlier, suggested that Pakistan could be paid its hosting fees amounting to 10.5 million dollars.
However, for Pakistan, its just not all about money. The country wants to host its share of matches, even if at the UAE. Being stripped of its share of matches in such a way indeed is a disgrace and for Pakistan this definitely is a matter of pride.
Latest reports from independent sources claim that the PCB might agree to forego the demand of hosting all the 2011 World Cup matches of its share and could likely compromise on some other formula where number of matches is cut down.

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