LAHORE: Two weeks after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) delegation was humiliated in Mumbai, federal sports minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada has sprang into action.

Pirzada has taken “serious notice” and is seeking clarification whether the delegation sought government permission before travelling to India.

A letter addressed to PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan dated Nov 2 stated: “Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada has taken serious notice of the issue of PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan’s planned meeting with BCCI president in India which could not take place and ended up in disruption.”

Shaharyar along with PCB executive committee chairman Najam Sethi and COO Subhan Ahmad went to India on Oct 18 on the invitation of Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) president Shashank Manohar to hold talks over the resumption of bilateral series between the two countries, which have been suspended for eight years.

But hours before the meeting Manohar succumbed to the pressure of Hindu extremist party Shiv Sena, which forcible entered the BCCI headquarters at the Wankhede Stadium, and cancelled the scheduled meeting.

No information, however, was conveyed to the PCB delegation about the cancellation of the meeting.

Sources added that Shiv Sena had threatened Manohar that they will wreak havoc in the final ODI between South Africa and India which was scheduled for Oct 25 if the BCCI would hold talks with the PCB.

“He [the minister] said that he has sought explanation along with the details of the incident from Pakistan Cricket Board,” the letter added. “He said that the PCB management has been asked to clarify as to whether or not the Foreign Office was consulted beforehand. Furthermore, whether a prior permission from the Prime Minister (Patron in Chief of PCB), was taken or not.

“The minister said that in the backdrop of tensions between the two countries, such decisions should only be taken after due deliberation with all stakeholders.

“Before such high level negotiations, the PCB leadership should have taken into account the Indian hostile environment and possible security threats. He said that the ill treatment of PCB top officials by BCCI is utterly undesirable and has brought disgrace.

“It was the responsibility of the BCCI management to pre-empt a protest or any attempt of disruption,” the minister asserted.

“The minister also emphasised that the sports federations/ boards under the patronage of Prime Minister or President should be all the more cautious in such matters.

“Pakistan Sports Board is also being directed to incorporate the representation of PSB in matters involving other countries to avoid such mishaps in the future,” it concluded.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2015

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