Pakistan Board to Seek More Time From ICC

Karachi: The governing council of the Pakistan Cricket Board has asked PCB chairman Ejaz Butt to convince the ICC to review the security situation in Pakistan early next year before deciding whether the country is safe enough to host the 2011 World Cup matches.

A governing council member said that the members have told Butt that when he signs the out-of-court settlement agreement with the ICC over the World Cup dispute, he should convince them to include a special waiver clause.

"The council members have advised Butt to include a waiver clause under which the ICC will again review the security situation in Pakistan early next year and if the security situation improves dramatically, Pakistan should be given the right to host some of its World Cup matches at home," the member said.

He said that the members wanted Butt to convince the ICC to extend the deadline for finalising venues for the World Cup from August 30 to early next year.

"The security situation in Pakistan is showing improvement and we want this special clause where the ICC can send its own delegation of security experts to review the situation early next year. If they feel the situation has improved, Pakistan must get a chance to host at least some matches of the World Cup," the member said.

The ICC executive board had moved the World Cup matches from Pakistan in April due to the worsening security situation in the country.

Pakistan filed a legal challenge against the decision but is set to enter an out-of-court settlement with the ICC assuring them of strong financial compensation for surrendering its share of matches.

Butt is scheduled to hold another meeting with the ICC President David Morgan later this month to finalise a memorandum of understanding that would end Pakistan's legal challenge.

The ICC has distributed Pakistan's share of 14 matches among India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the other three hosts of the World Cup.

Butt briefed the governing council members on Thursday about the progress made in the dispute with the ICC and got their approval for an out-of-court settlement if it is beneficial to Pakistan.