LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi on Monday accused his predecessor Zaka Ashraf of harming Pakistan’s interests by refusing the offer of the ‘Big Three’ to form a ‘Big Four’.

Speaking to reporters at the airport before leaving for Dubai to attend an ICC board meeting, Sethi revealed that an offer was made to Zaka which could’ve helped the country get greater revenue.

“I will hold an important meeting during the session,” he said. “In cricketing scenario, currently there are eight countries at one side and Pakistan at the other. The ICC doesn’t need Pakistan after the rejection of such a rare offer.”

Zaka, however, dismissed Sethi’s allegations and said that although India had made an offer to Pakistan to become the fourth member of the said panel, they did not offer any guarantees.

“When I went to attend the ICC meeting in Singapore [which approved the formation of Big Three], India stepped back from its offer, claiming two other members of the body namely Australia and England are not ready to admit Pakistan as a fourth member,” he said.

Pakistan abstained from voting in the ICC Board meeting in February in which India, Australia and England got majority of powers in the sport’s governing body, securing nine votes from the 10 full members.

Zaka said principally he did not agree to become the fourth member as it was also against the basic stand of the PCB, which did not accept any such formula based on discrimination among the member countries.

“Sethi has also invited previous PCB chairmen like Ijaz Butt, Shaharyar Khan, Tauqir Zia and Khalid Mahmood to take their input on the matter and they all have suggested him to take firm stand on the issue,” Zaka stated.

Zaka added India had offered him a short bilateral series but it wasn’t fully guaranteed whether the series would take place.

Earlier, Sethi said that he wanted to restore bilateral series between Pakistan and India.

“A series against India would bring huge revenue to the PCB besides bringing peace and prosperity to the region as the cricketing ties have been suspended for many years,” he said.

“Until and unless we play with India, we won’t make any money. Everyone is towing India’s line because playing with India makes you money.”

Sethi hailed the decision of T20 captain Mohammad Hafeez to step down from his post following Pakistan’s humiliating ouster from the ICC World T20 last week.

“He has set a good example by quitting from his post,” said Sethi while adding “time is required for the selection of a new captain and no preferential treatment would be given in this regard”.