September 5, 2003	Friday	Rajab 7, 1424

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MULTAN, Sept 4: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday denied Bangladesh team’s claims of being discriminated against, during the current tour after the visitor’s coach Dav Whatmore complained of improper flight arrangements reported in a Bangladesh newspaper.

Whatmore had said in an interview to an English Bangladesh newspaper Daily Star that his team was forced to travel in Economy Class on PIA flight PK-385 while Pakistani team was in Executive Class from Islamabad to Multan on Monday.

The PCB spokesman clarified that there was no Executive Class in the said flight as claimed by Mr Whatmore. The fact is that Pakistan team was in Economy Plus while the visitors were in Economy Class because the aircraft on this sector was a small one. There is no difference between the two classes but for extra baggage allowance.

As per regulations of the ICC, travel on international flights have to be in Business Class while the domestic flights have to be in Economy Class.

In his interview, also carried by a website, Whatmore was quoted as saying.

“This is not a good gesture. If there was any problem, the home team should have taken the Economy Class and offered the Executive Class to the Bangladesh team. I have never seen anything like this in my life.”