Pak Govt urges ICC to reconsider on 2011 WC ban

The ICC executive board stripped Pakistan of the hosting rights of 14 World Cup matches earlier this month due to security concerns in the aftermath of Lahore terror attack on Sri Lankan players. Jay Mir,the President and CEO of American sports and entertainment group said in his interview that the event would go ahead from October 6 even if the ICC refuses to sanction the event. ut Mir remained optmistic about the ongoing negotiations ith the USA cricket association.

“As we move forward with our negotiations,it is worth entioning that we have not received a rebel status as yet,” Mir said. “The ICC has advised the players and officials to stay away from the league until a concrete decision has been made and I think it is in the best interest of the USACA,APL and for the development of the game in USA,that this league is sacntioned,” he said.

“However since we are not depending on the official go-ahead the first tournament will be held even if the USACA refuses to approve it,” Mir said. Pakistan will be one of the teams in the six nation twenty20 tournament which will be played at a baseball park converted into a cricket ground.

Mir said that the APL had succeeded in recruiting Richard Hadlee as an executive consultant while also signing Graeme Hick,Nathan Astle,Adam Hollioake. Mir said he was hopeful the USACA would support the APL which is following in the footsteps of the IPL. “The reason behind ICL’s failure was because they didn’t have the backing of the national cricket board but I am sure the decision makers at the USACA are smart enough to understand that we also want to promote cricket in the United States and judging by the response we have had already I can only imagine how successful we can be in achieving this goal,” he said.