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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has claimed Pakistan missed out on the opportunity to have a major say in the affairs of the International Cricket Council (ICC) after Zaka Ashraf took over as chief from him for a brief period.
“The ‘Big Three’ offered us to join in and form the ‘Big Four’. It is quite unfortunate that the talks I started with them were not pursued further by the Pakistan Cricket Board when I wasn’t around,” Sethi said before leaving for Dubai for an ICC meeting.
In February this year, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif removed Zaka Ashraf as chairman of the board, appointing an 11-member committee, headed by former interim PCB chief Najam Sethi, to run the affairs of the PCB.
Islamabad Cricket Association president Shakil Shaikh, who is also one of the members, said Ashraf was removed because of "mishandling Pakistan's case in the recent changes brought in the ICC."
Pakistan abstained from the voting in the ICC Board meeting in February in which the three biggest cricketing nations — India, Australia and England — got a majority of the powers in the sport's governing body, securing 9 votes from the 10 full members.
Sethi said Pakistan were now left with nothing.
“Now, no one is willing to give us anything, particularly India. And it was India that had made us that offer. Until and unless we play with India, we won’t make any money. If we don’t make any money our domestic system will suffer. Everyone is toeing India’s line because playing with India makes you money.”
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Comments (66) Closed
Apr 07, 2014 07:14pm
Good for you corrupt thugs PCB, since you have managed to destroy every intstituion in th country and with this now Let's see how much money are you going to make. The reason PCB did not do anything because they are incapable of thinking rationally and you got what you deserved. Now our great talent can go outside the country and represent other countries because your corrupt officials...............
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Apr 07, 2014 07:22pm
Like hockey, now wither Pakistan cricket through terrible foresight to think no further.than today.
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Apr 07, 2014 07:25pm
Mr. Sethi, its a shame to understand that in your view we should not have had a principle stand and should have accepted the wrongs for money. You mean, if the thieves offered us to being a part of their gang then we were stupid not to have availed that offer. Sir, you must know, that not a single Pakistani stands against the stand Mr. Zaka Ashraf for taking the stand, he took, not even after you reveal that there was such an offer on the table. The people with conviction still believe that the so called Big3 have done wrong and they have now established the same corrupt system in ICC which we have in PCB.
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Apr 07, 2014 07:26pm
This is hard to believe. Big 3 do not come to Pakistan and Australia does not even invite us even when FTP was mandatory. None of them gave any importance to PCB even when there was no Big3. PCB is not a big revenue contributor. They even blocked Pakistan Super League. why on earth they will elevate PCB. Beats all commonsense.
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Apr 07, 2014 07:27pm
This is what you call a
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Apr 07, 2014 07:31pm
Sethi has tainted background. He is more of a typical PML n politician than an administrator. His allegations are unfounded as the draft for BIG three was out long before he was replaced. On the other hand ZA did what a principled administrator should do. Why can't they just get rid of these political appointees and find a former cricketer with admin background to represent PCB?
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Apr 07, 2014 07:31pm
We haven't played india for many years now and we still have enough money to run our systems despite corruption and over employment. Not playing India gives us lesser money but it only effects the corrupt pockets. Don't make us dependent on indian money as some individuals are.
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Apr 07, 2014 08:01pm
Resign from you Job if you cannot do anything for Pakistan Cricket. Dont tell us the obvious if you were any good you could have done a little better i think.
Junk!
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Apr 07, 2014 08:03pm
Get a life, you low life scum. Try and explain the T20 team selection before talking about big three.
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Apr 07, 2014 08:04pm
Another fake puncture by Sethi. You are right Sethi because you were not there we missed the chance of a puncture ...!!!
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Apr 07, 2014 08:21pm
Sethi Sahab I am not saying that you pick up fight with India. But if you really want to show your administrative class then develop our own comprehensive league without waiting for the international players. This is the best time to develop something of your own on a sound footing and work towards self sufficiency. Belive in your talent pool and believe in your own market. If anything take some lessons from TV channels that you yourself work in and TV showbiz industry who developed pretty good industry on their own.
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Apr 07, 2014 08:25pm
OMG!! This guy can lie! There was never a "Big Four". There were added concessions for Pakistan if they agreed to support Big Three. This is so pathetic.
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Apr 07, 2014 08:26pm
Pak once again proved themselves odd man out in the community of cricket playing countries. Ye to wohi baat hui ki "paani me rehkar magarmach se bair". Mr Sethi seems to be a practical man.
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Apr 07, 2014 08:29pm
People in Pakistan should not be surprised at this news. Why should PCB performance be any different then the other national organizartions in the country. PIA, Railway, Steel Mills etc.
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Apr 07, 2014 08:35pm
Mr.Najam Sethi told the bitter truth, which some Pakistanis will find difficult to digest. India controls the purse.
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Apr 07, 2014 08:36pm
Why would a "big four", if there was one include Pakistan? Why not West Indies, Sri Lanka or South Africa? Somebody is making a fool of us.or publicly blame the previous administration for some other issues. Watch there's more to come from Sethi - this was just the stage setting.
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Apr 07, 2014 09:46pm
I appreciate his frank remarks but "big four" is an exaggeration. India offered to have more bilateral series with Pakistan in case Pakistan would have supported them in ICC.
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Apr 07, 2014 09:51pm
Can we please call it the Big Three and a Quarter and end this topic please.
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Apr 07, 2014 09:56pm
Mr Sethi's is not even embarrassed in suggesting that Ashraf should have sold national honour, self respect and principles. No wonder he is a favourite of NS.
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Apr 07, 2014 10:20pm
We need a chairman who has a positive mindset and a clear vision along with a clear strategy. Whining about the past is useless. You must study the current CEO of Blackberry who is facing a far greater challenge than what you have in your hand.
Please lead from the front or quietly exit from the back alley.
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Apr 07, 2014 11:05pm
Mr. Sethi, something should be clear. Either you support the concept of big and small or you don't. If the stand taken by ZA was on grounds of principles then it should be lauded. If it was to get more into the purse then don't blame big three for going the way they have gone. You should not complain if you think the concept of big three is wrong. If you think it was correct then you should have supported it at the first place and negotiated for bigger amounts as far as bilateral tours and money is concerned.
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Apr 07, 2014 11:51pm
A typical and an obvious lie. He changes his colors like a chameleon. Tragedy is not so much that he is lying ( as it is expected of him) but the fact that our people are so gullible that they buy anything which has a touch of conspiracy theory to it.
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Apr 08, 2014 01:41am
Najam Sethi (NS) like the other NS is a shameless liar. The big three agreed with Pakistan for big four, really? We cannot hold matches in our country and we were offered to be part of big four? And on what basis? Funnily enough, SA and SL were not offered? There was no such offer and he is just maligning others. The decision of big three was done during his time and the corrupt that he is like his namesake, he would have taken the 'gift' rather than pushing Pakistan's case.
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Apr 08, 2014 02:09am
Dipak@gary:
Mr. Nazam Sethi should request Saurashtra's Mr. Niranjan Shah for Help through the great Pakistani cricketer Mr. Hanif Muhammad to get inroads to the big three. Mr. Shah has lots of influence in BCCI and Hanifbhai being originally from Saurashtra where he is greatly loved, things could workout for Pakistan.
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Apr 08, 2014 02:15am
What stand did ZA take? Abstaining from vote means you are confused if you should vote in favor or against. Period. It no where means you oppose. If he wanted to oppose why they did not vote against it!
No please enlighten who is blocking PSL?
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Apr 08, 2014 02:17am
O bhai enough with this stuff. PCB needs money to promote cricket at the domestic level so that talent is unearthed. We need money and now we won't get any. Sethi is right here.
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Apr 08, 2014 03:21am
Don't know much about Mr.Sethi but fans need to understand it is business as well and that it not a bad thing. And of course one needs to keep it clean out of corruption. Big 3 or Big 4
Is mainly about revenue sharing which is justified I think - it is business after all and whoever drives more will get bigger chunk.
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Apr 08, 2014 04:13am
Did Mr Sethi informed Mr Zaka about the proposal prior to ICC Board meeting in February. However, Mr Sethi was against big three proposal in his TV programs during the negoiation/discussion phase.
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Apr 08, 2014 04:43am
hmm...maybe the government should privatise PCB as well
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Apr 08, 2014 06:32am
Pakistan is paying a price for over-cleverness and self-aggrandizement, and not for any principles as being projected by some Pakistani fans here. This is typical of Pakistan to orient itself against India on international forums and try to form a gang against India's proposal. Same thing they did here but plan fell flat on its face. Pakistan had a list of demands that they expected to be fulfilled by blackmailing the ICC on issue of reforms. Now take it. You stand isolated. Sethi is only trying to bring some sense but it is clearly not getting through.
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Apr 08, 2014 06:54am
utter non sense he is speaking!
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Apr 08, 2014 07:24am
I don't know why everyone thinks Big 3 or Big 4 will create "veto" status or monopoly. May be thats how your TV has shown it to you. They are justifying their business case, revenues and sponsors. You can't play soccer with Brazil and ask for equal share. I took Brazil as an example to make the case obvious, not to imply India or Australia is Brazil.
Cricketers and staff need money, sponsors supply money, Sponsor demand guarantees with schedules, dependencies go on. It is business at the end.That is how soccer, NBA,NFL, MLB all professional sports are all played.
Dawn: Not sure why you have not published my earlier comment. There was no offense to anyone.
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Apr 08, 2014 07:36am
this guy is complete disgrace not only for Pak cricket and PLMN ,but for whole nation.
he seems to be in possession of some weaknesses of PMLN AND because of that he is enjoying bigger piece of cake!!!!!!!!!
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Apr 08, 2014 07:58am
Now I really convinced that Mr. Sethi is big liar. India who does not want to play single game and how can he offer this?
Before Zaka, Sethi have attended all the meetings and he never mentioned this to anyone.
Please do not destroy cricket and Country anymore. Nawaz already gave you reward for you job you did for him.
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Apr 08, 2014 08:32am
Common Pakistani people. Bashing Najam Sethi and getting all emotional about PCB. Its just a silly game that sometime you lose and sometime you win. Most of you anti Sethi folks are a bunch of frustrated wanabees who cannot look beyond conspiracies and false pride.
Pakistani cricket went downhill after the attack on the Sri Lanka team in Lahore, so its not Najam Sethi who you should vent on. The team performance has been sporadic at best since Imran Khan left.
But I do enjoy the retired cricketers come on TV and let out all their grudges and criticisms every time they are invited to speak. Its just a game. (that is played in may be 15 countries out of 196) 7% ?
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Apr 08, 2014 09:08am
Bitter truth....we (INDIA) rules the cricket world...and YES you are bound to play with INDIA if you really want to grow as an international team...accept the fact guys.
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Apr 08, 2014 10:02am
can't stop laughing. PCB isn't even capable of running cricket affairs within Pakistan and this man says we should have accepted that offer to be a part of Big 4 (just in case there was any offer).
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Apr 08, 2014 10:37am
Lets wait for Mr. Ashraf answer what he is saying, because I do not think Big 3 invited us for Big 4 this in impossible and not true.
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Apr 08, 2014 12:02pm
BOYCOTT cricket. Start a new league; and do NOT invite the 'big 3'. The 'small 7' will then rule. The 'big-3' can play within their own system. It is a SYSTEM - if NOT fair it SHOULD fall apart.
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Apr 08, 2014 12:10pm
This man should be removed immediately form PCB as he is not working for Pakistan interest.
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Apr 08, 2014 12:13pm
With a 200M cricket crazy population, Pakistan was a natural 4th member of a big four. However, this was true in the pre 9/11 world ... not any more. Sethi comments are quite laughable. I didnt even read beyond the headline ...
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Apr 08, 2014 01:11pm
PCB missed an opportunity due to irrational thinking of its leadership then. For Mr. Sethi there are daunting challenges. At national level he must revamp the PCB as well as cricket team purely on merit basis, and promote professionalism in the Pakistani cricket whatsoever it takes, while at international level Mr. Sethi must use his diplomatic skills if he has ones to get from the ICC whatever he can fro the Pakistani cricket under the present scenario "Big Three."
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Apr 08, 2014 01:27pm
I don't believe a word of this !!! Pakistan has NOTHING to offer the Big three, eys it still makes more money than SA New Zealand, SL or WI but even so they need Pakistan for nothing.
Also I refuse to admit Pakistan did not join the big 3 if it were given an offer.
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Apr 08, 2014 01:39pm
Big 4th? Really?
they have failed to bring back cricket to the country and talking about 4 th big cricket controlling country.
this is perhaps to gain some cheap publicity.
Revival of cricket in Pakistan is not dependent on playing with India rather by bringing cricket back to Pakistan.
In last decade we can literraly count on finger tips the number of matched played between the two countries in bilateral series. But cricket is going on in Pakistan.
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Apr 08, 2014 01:52pm
So Sethi would have sold his (our) soul & that's why he considers Zaka's stand a mistake. No matter what; for the 1st time I'm proud that PCB stood-up for 'cricket' & principle & I'm sure an opportunist like Sethi would have ruined it.
IK may not get everything right but he looked into this crook & warned us about him.
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Apr 08, 2014 02:09pm
Abbey Sethi -- ICC was saying Big 3 and small 4. Do you know what is cricket?
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Apr 08, 2014 06:08pm
Pakistan does not know its potential, the day it realizes it would know what sought economic potential it has. Pakistan will be a bigger economy then UK in near future, so what Mr Setty may be saying might be correct. I assure you BCCI is run by businessmen , so they will quickly tap the potential.
it is better that PAK PM talks to new PM of India whoever it is and ask BCCI to re initiate the dialog. this will be a good confidence building measure between India Pakistan also.
If BJP comes to power , Pakistan job will be easy.
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Apr 08, 2014 06:56pm
What a Joke !! As usual Self Proclaimed Big 4
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Apr 08, 2014 08:24pm
@System:
What principle ZA had when he broke the country so that he can get the power? Name one Pakistani politician who is a man of principles. There is not any.
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Apr 08, 2014 08:26pm
@Dipak:
You want Pakistan to bend on their knees?
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Apr 08, 2014 08:27pm
@Tamza:
It will be mohalla cricket, not international cricket. And anyway, no country wants to visit Pakistan. You can play with Saudis though.
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Apr 08, 2014 08:28pm
@Dipak:
Are u mad? let Pakistan be out of the arena and watch the fun.
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Apr 08, 2014 10:03pm
@Ravi Dallas TX: I will be surprised if Dawn's censor team passes this comment of mine, but I have noticed one thing, it is quite like Pakistan's cricket team --- it works in fits and starts. So not all comments are passed, even the most inoffensive ones get brushed under the carpet (could be their lunch hour, you know)...so don't get too upset if they spike some comments of yours, it is just that they are having lunch.
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Apr 08, 2014 10:27pm
@Neeraj:
Big or No Big - Best cricket series played in the subcontinent is usually between Pakistan and India. Cannot Ignore that.
Big four suffering is due to political reasons or other party's interests. Pakistan Army an/or security forces not only underestimated Taliban's' attack on Sri Lanka team in Lahore, and also its consequences, which is the reason for all this fuss.
Except Pakistani players and fans, everyone benefited from it.
Abid, M
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Apr 09, 2014 01:55am
Neither big three nor big 4 is good for cricket.
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Apr 09, 2014 07:33am
@gary:
What u can understand is Australia with 21 Million Population can generate big revenue. yet pakistan with 180 Million can't. I understand the currency value difference but still the % of population is far greater the $ value. Why can't we hold domestic events and generate money. Thats exactly what India did. Its as simple as getting the house in order and get rid of these sudo intellectuals and opportunists.
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Apr 09, 2014 11:01am
What does Sathi know about Cricket?
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Apr 09, 2014 12:02pm
@Manish:
Well Said
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Apr 09, 2014 01:02pm
I am an Indian and believe me, most of us do not like the arrogant attitude of BCCI, but then BCCI like most Asian cricket boards is run by politicians which means they care about nothing but money. Personally, I appreciate the stance that Pakistan and Sri Lankan boards took in this regard, but alas money has won yet again. All we can do now is hope that the game at least survives.
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Apr 09, 2014 01:27pm
WHAT CAN U EXPECT FROM A SETHI ?
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Apr 09, 2014 04:15pm
@Shahryar Shirazi:
Why is cricket under the control of politics ? Why can we behave like other countries and be free of the politicians ?
How many of the fat souls play cricket ?
Please don't tell me that, the Nawaz Sharif does. He can not run a hundred yards with his unfit physique to save his life.
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Apr 09, 2014 04:53pm
Sethi sahib, consult with them to go for ONLY Four, rather than BIG Four.
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Apr 09, 2014 10:41pm
Mr. sethi is exactly right... until and unless people start playing with india, they wont make money. Its all economics.. collaborate with big economies.. that's the power to success.
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Apr 10, 2014 01:20am
Never seen an intellectually dishonest person deceive so many on so many issues so many times. Truth twists and writhes in his hands like a deer in the jaws of a crocodile.
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Apr 10, 2014 08:40am
Pakistan has the best talent out there. All nations know this. But the management and egos mess it up for them. I have never seen poorer selection than seen in the recent world cup. It beats the insane historical 'non-selection' of Saqlain, Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood. Team B Pakistan batting line up is better than the current. I believe Pakistan will eventually get into the Big Four.
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Apr 10, 2014 12:32pm
Mr. Prime Minister please appoint an honest and dedicated professional as Chairman BCCP or else like other sports cricket will be lost.
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