LAHORE: Outgoing president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Ehsan Mani on Saturday said organising the annual general meeting of the game’s continental body in Pakistan after a long gap of ten years is a very important step towards resuming foreign teams’ tour to the country.

“The members felt it is a step in the right direction for bringing back top-quality international cricket to Pakistan. The ACC endeavours to take similar steps in the future,” Mani said during a press conference along with new ACC president Nazm-ul-Hassan of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after chairing the meeting featuring officials from 22 member countries of the ACC.

Mani said no delegate from the BCCI came for the meeting because they did not get permission from their government.

In an important announcement, Mani said the 2018 Emerging Teams Asia Cup would be jointly hosted by the PCB and Sri Lanka Cricket next month, with Group ‘B’ matches taking place in Karachi and Group ‘A’ games being held in Sri Lanka. Pakistan, Bang­la­desh, UAE and Hong Kong — placed in Group ‘B’ — will play their matches of the continental event in Karachi.

Group ‘B’ is composed of Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, India and Oman.

Commenting on the relations between the PCB and the BCCI, Mani said the situation in India would be clear after next year’s general elections. After the elections, he added, the PCB would try to talk with the BCCI about the future relations of the two cricket boards.

A press release issued by the PCB read, “The ACC presidency has been handed over to Bangladesh with Mr Nazmul Hassan [President Bangladesh Cricket Board] taking over from Mr Ehsan Mani (Chairman PCB) for the term 2018-2020.”

Meanwhile speaking after taking charge, Nazmul said he would try to lift the game in Asia.

“I am honoured to take over the coveted role of ACC president. My foremost endeavour would be to bring the Asian cricket-playing countries together and promote the sport around the region. The Asian wing is right now the strongest as far as international cricket is concerned with as many as five Test-playing nations and two countries with ODI status,” Nazmul said.

“I have already been associated with the ACC for a number of years and I hope my experience will help me in taking the ACC to greater heights in unison with all member countries.”

Nazmul hoped that soon international cricket in Pakistan would be restored. “Bangladesh will send its team to Pakistan for the Emerging Teams Asia Cup and there is no politics in Bangladesh cricket,” he said, adding that his country had already sent its women’s cricket team to Pakistan.

To a question, Nazam said he was taking charge at a very crucial stage noting the relations between the two major cricket boards of Asia — BCCI and PCB — were not exemplary at the moment. However, Nazam added, he would try its level best to increase the importance of ACC for its member countries. “The last Asia Cup successfully staged in the UAE has proved the importance of Asian cricket.”

ACC vice-president Khawaja Imran, who also spoke at the meeting, emphasised that the biggest task for Pakistan at this stage was to restore international cricket. “All stakeholders should play a positive role to [help] bring international cricket back to Pakistan,” Imran insisted.

During the meeting Afghanistan was unanimously selected as full ACC member.

A number of officials of ACC members also spoke on including cricket in multi-sport events like the Asian Games, underlining that efforts should be made to ensure the sport is included in the 2022 Asian Games scheduled to be held in China.

David Richardson, the International Cricket Council chief executive, on the occasion gave a presentation to the ACC members about the ICC Global Strategy and how it can help them develop the game in their respective countries.

Mohammad Aflah, president of the Maldives cricket board, thanked the PCB and the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for organising their team’s successful tour to Lahore last month.

Mani in his address also thanked the ACC and ICC officials.

“I want to thank the ACC members, Mr David Richardson and other ICC officials for coming over to Lahore for this annual general meeting. The Asian region is incredibly important for the future of international cricket comprising the biggest fan base for the game,” the PCB chief stated.

“I welcome Mr Nazmul Hassan as the new ACC president, and I am confident that he will work for promoting the game further in the region. I would also like to thank the ACC Board and all member countries for their support during Pakistan’s tenure,” Mani told the participants of the meeting.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2018