ISLAMABAD, Oct 29: An arbitrator appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has admitted an application from president of Islamabad Cricket Association (ICA) Nasir Iqbal that he be treated as an important party in the affairs of the association.

Maqbool Elahi Malik, a former Advocate General Punjab, who formally began arbitration proceedings, was appointed following the consent of warring parties of ICA. Babar Awan, is representing secretary ICA Irfan Manzoor and treasurer Hassan Asghar as their counsel in the arbitration proceedings.

On the other hand Ishaq Bhatti, who appeared before the arbitrator, has engaged advocate Aftab Gul as his counsel. On the first day, both parties apprised the arbitrator about their respective positions.

The arbitrator ordered both parties to file their claims and fixed Nov 22 as the next date of hearing. The ICA general body had elected Nasir as their new president in a meeting held on Aug 10 after passing a vote of no confidence against Ishaq.

The general body had levelled several charges against Ishaq that led to the PCB conducting an inquiry, the findings of which are available with both parties. The PCB chief Shaharyar M. Khan approved the inquiry report and its recommendations following which Maqbool was named as an arbitrator. A scrutiny committee constituted by the PCB to look into ICA accounts has now submitted its report with the Board.