PCB cautions against govt’s interference

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) cautioned against government interference in cricketing affairs in response to Ministry of Inter-Provincial Committee show-cause notice.
In hand out issued Tuesday, the PCB said that the International Cricket Council (ICC), the global governing body of the game, is sensitive to government interference in affairs of its member boards. “Though the PCB has not received IPC notice yet, we maintain that the ICC is sensitive to any government interference,” it added.
It is worth mentioning here, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Anurag Thakur has recently asked government of Pakistan to talk to Indian government to settle the bilateral series issue. “The government of Pakistan should talk to its Indian counterpart to make way for resumption of bilateral cricket between the two countries,” he said.
ICC did not utter a single word in reaction to BCCI official direct request to both governments to take up series issue.The PCB spokesman further said that it had yet to receive any notice from the IPC. “PCB has until the issuance of this media release not received any communication from the ministry of IPC. Once the board receives letter we would react on it confidentially,” he said.
The PCB spokesman further says that it is an autonomous organisation, answerable to its Patron, the prime minister of Pakistan and its board of governors. Both stakeholders have been kept apprised of the developments with regard to the PCB and BCCI matters. “PCB has always conducted its negotiations with the BCCI and other national cricketing entities independently - with the government at no stage ever preventing it from so doing.”
The ministry however, maintains that when it comes to visiting India, sports officials are required to seek NOC from the government through ministry.“The Ministry of IPC has written an official letter to PCB and before any official reply from PCB no verdict can be given. We are waiting for PCB reply on our notice,” IPC Ministry official when contacted to respond to PCB reaction, said.