PCB eyes Amir, BD tour issues as ICC moot begins

KARACHI: For the rest of the cricketing world there would be more important issues like the Future Tour Programme, player behaviour and anti-corruption.
But when the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meets in Dubai on Wednesday and Thursday, Pakistan’s cricket chiefs will be equally interested in a few other issues like the case of banned fast bowler Mohammad Amir.
In addition, they would also be trying on the sidelines of the ICC moot to amicably settle a dispute with Bangladesh regarding a proposed tour of that country which is in jeopardy because of differences between the two boards.
The ICC Board is likely to give its nod of approval to the move that will allow Amir a reprieve in the sense that he would be allowed to return to domestic cricket as early as next month. This means that the fast bowler, who was banned for five years for spot-fixing along with two other team-mates, could be fully ready to return to international cricket soon after his ban ends this September.
Before that Amir could possibly play county cricket as he is making efforts to get a contract with one of the leading teams in England.
However, a PCB official told ‘The News’ on Tuesday that the ICC reprieve would hardly make much difference to Amir’s comeback plans because the Board will want to keep a close eye on the player and is unlikely to allow him to play county cricket anytime soon.
“The Board won’t take any chances by allowing Amir to go and play in England. It would keep him under constant probation to make sure that there are no unpleasant surprises,” he said.
About a possible deal with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the official said that PCB was willing to be a little flexible but only if the BCB also reciprocates.
“We want a 50 percent share from the profits but there could be a deal if they agree to 60-40,” he said.
Agencies add: Earlier, the BCB had labelled the conditions put forward by the PCB over Pakistan’s possible tour of Bangladesh as “not realistic”.
The PCB had demanded 50% of the revenue from the BCB, as well as an exchange of the Under-19s and A-team tours. The board said that unless Bangladesh agreed to their terms in writing, they would not give the BCB an assurance of the tour which consists of two Tests, three ODIs and a T20 between April 10 and May 7.
The PCB had informed the BCB that they are sticking to their demands and also insisted on making every agreement a written and legally binding one before getting into any commitment. Both PCB and BCB executives are set to meet in the UAE on the sidelines of the ICC meeting for a final round of talks.
Bangladesh, according to the present FTP, are supposed to host Pakistan for two Tests, three ODIs and a T20 between April 10 and May 7. However, the PCB is yet to hand the BCB an assurance on the tour. The FTP is no more a central agreement between the ICC and its members. Now there are bilateral agreements between member nations and boards can decide individually whether playing each other is commercially viable or not.
Meanwhile, the ICC chiefs have player behaviour on the agenda ahead of next month’s World Cup, but the ­Australian team says it has not ­received any feedback to suggest it has a problem.
There has been an outcry over on-field confrontations during the Australia-India series, with commentators and some former players calling for a crackdown. Most criticism has been levelled at the behaviour of Australian players.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said this week that he and his staff were regularly in contact with umpires and match referees but that none had expressed any particular ­concerns.
Much was made by some critics of David Warner’s code of conduct breach in an altercation ­with Rohit Sharma during the one-day series. The match referee gave Warner the lowest possible penalty, fining him when he could have been suspended.