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| November 09, 2006 | Thursday | Shawwal 16, 1427 |
Pakistan offer to play ODI in England to cover Oval loss
LAHORE, Nov 8: The Pakistan Cricket Board is offering to play a One-day International in England next year as a way of resolving the compensation row from the forfeited Oval Test. However, the ECB while confirming Pakistan’s offer said the busy schedule of the England cricket team could prevent it.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had asked the Pakistan Cricket Board for £800,000 in lost revenue after The Oval match became the first Test in history to be forfeited when Pakistan refused to take the field on the fourth day after umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove had penalised them five runs for ball-tampering. The PCB initially refused to pay but have now offered the ODI as an alternative.
A PCB official told the BBC on Wednesday: "We have told (ECB chairman) David Morgan that we are willing to play a one-dayer next summer in England and revenues earned from that game after deducting expenses can be taken as compensation." The board contended that Hair was responsible for the forfeiture. Hair was dumped from the elite list of umpires last week, and the PCB official said: "We want a settlement despite the fact that Hair's removal had vindicated our stand."
In a late development on Wednesday, the ECB said chances of holding an extra ODI as a compensation game were grim. "We are appreciative of Pakistan's offer and are exploring all options," an ECB spokeswoman told BBC Sports. "England have a packed schedule next summer and it is unlikely this one-day match could be accommodated."
OUR CORRESPONDENT ADDS: Another option suggested for sorting out the contentious issue of compensation is that the ECB could deduct the amount from the money which they owe to Pakistan for having played an extra Test match and a Twenty20 game during the recent tour.
Last winter, England toured Pakistan and played three Test matches and five ODIs but on Pakistan’s return tour, they played four Tests and five ODIs besides a Twenty20 game.
Sources told Dawn that if the ECB decides to deduct the amount from the PCB dues (for playing extra matches), there would be little remaining balance of the claim which the PCB could easily pay to the ECB later.
According to the ICC rules and regulations, the country which will host more matches compared to their tour to that country would have to pay a specific amount for the same.—Agencies
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