September 19, 2008	Friday	Ramazan 18, 1429

KARACHI, Sept 18: Former Pakistan captains Ramiz Raja and Intikhab Alam have urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to review its rules to make sure countries do not pick and choose tours.

Their demand follows Australia’s decision on government advice to go ahead with their tour of India despite last week’s bomb blasts in New Delhi that killed over 20 people.

Pakistan have accused the Australians of double standards after they postponed a tour of Pakistan earlier this year for security reasons and were among five nations who refused to send teams for this month’s ICC Champions Trophy, forcing its postponement until October next year.

“For Pakistani cricket administrators, players and fans the situation is very frustrating and it is wrong and I think the fault lies with the ICC,” Ramiz said on Thursday.

The ICC rules stipulate hefty fines for teams refusing to tour under its Future Tours Programme (FTP) unless the decision is due to issues beyond the visiting side’s control.

“What is wrong is that the ICC has got rules made up for certain blocs to quit cricket in certain areas at their own will and this pick and choose policy must stop,” Ramiz added.

“The ICC needs to review existing conditions and change the rules at their level.”

Intikhab said if Australia could tour India then it was only right Pakistan should also be designated a safe country for cricket.

“I think it is time the ICC played a stronger role and made sure that countries like Australia don’t pick and choose their tours,” he said.

“The ICC must have a uniform policy for its member nations on foreign tours taking security issues into consideration.”

Australia captain Ricky Ponting rejected Pakistan’s criticism, saying any decisions on whether teams should proceed with tours were dependent upon advice they received from the government and independent security firms.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have obviously been in very close contact with Cricket Australia (CA) over the last few days,” Ponting told reporters in Australia.

“As we all know and has been outlined already, these are very different circumstances between India and Pakistan right at the moment and CA has made that very clear.

“As captain of the side and as a player, right at the moment I am very comfortable to go on the advice of CA and the players’ association,” the Australian captain stated.—Reuters