ISLAMABAD: Ehsan Mani believes Pakistan, in response to BCCI’s indifferent approach towards reviving the bilateral series, should devise a proper strategy to refuse to play India in group stages of 2016 ICC World Twenty20, insisting there is no need to compromise with the Indian board.

“We should take a very clear line on the issue of Indo-Pak series, in fact we shouldn’t pursue India at all,” Mani, who remained ICC president from 2003 to 2006, said while talking to a private TV channel.

“When I was ICC president, I had worked out the Indian mindset, which was, if you remain strong and firm with Indians but fair and they will cooperate with you. But if you show them a little bit of leniency they will take full advantage of your weakness,” he said.

Mani reckoned Pakistan could take up a concrete stand on playing against India in ICC events — as a counter move to India avoiding bilateral series with Pakistan despite signing the MoU for six series from 2015-2023.

“Usually, Pakistan and India at ICC events are placed in the same group, because the ICC and broadcasters want to maximise their revenue. So what if Pakistan tells the ICC that they want different group from India and they will not play India in any group matches,” he said.

Ex-ICC president urges PCB to adopt a strong stance on bilateral series issue

“Pakistan should tell the ICC that we are revising our position on the ‘big three’ issue as India has backed out of the MoU [to play bilateral series with Pakistan] and we want to discuss this profit-sharing issue once again,” Mani stated.

“The ICC discourages political involvement in the matters of cricket boards but the new BCCI chairman was elected only because he had BJP support. Therefore, the PCB should take this matter too to the ICC,” he said.

Mani said the PCB should tell the ICC that most BCCI officials were politicians, especially their secretary Anurag Thakur and Rajiv Shukla, and should ask the Indian board whether these officials were issuing statements as politicians or as BCCI officials.

“No need to compromise with the BCCI for a short series as Pakistan cricket can survive without India. After IPL scandal N. Srinivasan was elected as ICC chairman because of morally dishonest conduct of England and Australia,” Mani lamented.

He said the PCB had signed an agreement with the ICC to play in its events so they shouldn’t boycott the World Twenty20. However, he added, they (PCB) could refuse to play India in those tournaments.

“Groups are not made on the basis of rankings, the ICC makes groups purely on commercial basis. I have managed a few ICC tournaments myself and I know Pakistan is under no obligation to be in the same group alongside India,” he said.

Mani made it clear that unless Pakistan took strong steps there was no way India would play them in December.

“This clause that the BCCI must have clearance from their government to play Pakistan will always be used as an excuse to not revive Indo-Pak bilateral series,” he insisted.

The former ICC president said the PCB must take strong measures to get justice.

“If you look at it this way Pakistan has lost lot of revenue because of India’s refusal to play them since 2007 in a bilateral series and it is hurting Pakistan cricket.”

He pointed out that Pakistan cricket had been perfectly capable of surviving without playing India so they could take hard decisions.

“If India does not play in December Pakistan should also ask the ICC board to review the entire arrangement and agreement made for the change in governance system in the ICC last year.”

Mani said Indo-Pak series was a part of that MoU which the PCB signed on the sidelines of ‘big three’ issue and PCB representative at that time told us that it is not ‘big three’, but ‘big four’.

However, Mani said, one should ask Najam Sethi regarding legality of the MoU signed with India.

Published in Dawn, October 13th , 2015

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