Pak threaten to desert CBFS

ISLAMABAD, JULY 31: Pakistan are planning to pull out from the Sharjah Cricket Tournament this October if they do not get a better financ...

ISLAMABAD, JULY 31: Pakistan are planning to pull out from the Sharjah Cricket Tournament this October if they do not get a better financial deal from the organisers and are seeking to join hands with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to make a joint effort for a better deal.

A senior member of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) ad hoc committee said the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), tournament organisers at the Gulf outpost, have offered only a “token amount” to Pakistan despite signing a lucrative television rights deal recently.

“The CBFS has signed a US $ 25 million contract with TWI (Trans World International), but is paying just $ 225,000 to Pakistan, which is peanuts. We strongly object to this and are seriously considering pulling out of the Sharjah tournament in protest,” he was quoted as saying by the English daily The Dawn.

“TWI signed a lucrative deal because Pakistan and India tour Sharjah and play matches. Therefore we have a claim to ask for more sharefrom the television rights,” he said.

“Ask TWI if they will pay a similar amount to CBFS if New Zealand or England or even South Africa are playing. People of the Emirates want to see Pakistan and India in action.”

The PCB official said Pakistani cricketers have also complained about the poor treatment they get in Sharjah from CBFS officials.

The official said PCB was ready to fight a legal battle if CBFS goes to court on grounds of violation of contract. “We may have to pay damages, we will pay them but will not allow anyone to toy with us."

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“The days when the CBFS used to dictate terms are over. We want business,” he said.

The PCB has signed a deal with CBFS for playing in Sharjah at least once a year till 2000. The entire PCB management was dissolved on July 16 by President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar and the ad hoc body appointed to look after cricket in Pakistan.

No Witch Hunt: The Pakistan government has given an assurance that there would be no witch hunt’ during the probe intobetting and match-fixing allegations against some leading cricketers.

Information and sports minister Mushahid Hussain, told the senate yesterday that the issue will be dealt in keeping with the law after Leader of the Opposition and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) member, Aitzaz Ahsan, alleged that players were being harassed.

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“It is deplorable to see how sporting heroes of the nation are being hounded by the Ehtesab bureau,” he told the senate. Hussain lauded the team for reaching the finals, adding that the Pakistani society had an element of extremism’ and defeat was not accepted with grace.

He said the loss in the final, against Australia, could be due to loss of nerves as even a team like South Africa had lost in the semi-final against Australia.

Meanwhile, media reports said Ehtesab had completed its questioning of Akram and Ijaz Ahmed and was now taking the statement of Malik. Its report, expected to be finalised soon, will be submitted to the one-man judicial panel inquiring into betting andmatch-fixing allegations.