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20-Jun-2009 20:45:00 GMT
ICC World Cup, 2011

Pakistan Resumes Legal Battle as 2011 WC Talks Fail

London: Pakistan cricket chiefs said on Saturday that they will restart legal proceedings against the International Cricket Council after talks over hosting World Cup matches in 2011 broke down.

"The PCB sought the support of its fellow Asian co-hosts for matches to be played under the aegis of the PCB in a safe neutral venue," the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement here.

"Despite the fact that these discussions had been helpfully and constructively brokered by the ICC president David Morgan and vice president Sharad Pawar, no progress was made.

"This will mean that organizational issues surrounding the 2011 World Cup remain unresolved and that the legal proceedings the PCB has brought against the ICC in Dubai and in Lahore will continue," the statement added.

The PCB's response came after a meeting of officials from the four co-hosts - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - here at Lord's on Saturday on the sidelines of the World Twenty20 tournament.

Pakistan had served legal notices on the ICC after being stripped of hosting rights in the wake of the militant attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore on March 3 and the deteriorating security situation in the volatile nation.

The ICC clarified earlier this week that while Pakistan were removed as a host location, the country remained a co-host and expected a final decision soon.

It meant Pakistan would still get a hosting fee of $750,000 per match from the ICC, a total of 10.5 million dollars for the 14 games, irrespective of where they were held.

With matches in Pakistan ruled out, the PCB were in talks with the ICC and the other co-hosts to organise their share of 14 matches at neutral venues like the United Arab Emirates.

The meeting on Saturday followed talks between the ICC and the four co-hosts earlier in the week to "settle misunderstandings," in the words of ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

The ICC had also said that the other three host nations had agreed to forego hosting fees for the 14 extra matches allotted to them that were originally due to be held in Pakistan.

Pakistan had put legal proceedings on hold till the matter was resolved, but have now decided to go ahead with the cases following disagreement between the co-hosts.

There was no immediate reaction from the ICC on the PCB's decision to resume its legal battle.

The contentious issue is expected to be discussed at the ICC's annual meetings at Lord's from June 22-26.

The ICC has ruled out switching the 2011 World Cup to Australia and New Zealand, the designated hosts of the 2015 event.


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