Pakistan looking to Speed to solve tour impasse by AFP

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Event:

Pakistan in British Isles 2006

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DateLine: 24th August 2006

 

International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Malcolm Speed was said to be on his way to London to help broker a deal that could keep Pakistan's tour of England on track after the fall-out from last week's ball-tampering controversy at The Oval.

 

"We have an indication from our lawyers that they have information Malcolm Speed is likely to be coming," said Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan at the team's London hotel Wednesday after meetings ended with no definitive statement about whether the upcoming one-day series against England would go ahead as planned.

 

Officials from both boards met before Pakistan's players held a meeting amongst themselves as all considered the ball-tampering impasse which cut short last weekend's fourth and final Test.

 

Pakistan had threatened to boycott the five-match one-day series if captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was banned as a result of charges of ball-tampering and bringing cricket into disrepute following their forfeiture of the fourth Test against England at The Oval.

 

A disciplinary hearing was due to take place Friday in London but was postponed Wednesday because of the unavailabity of International Cricket Council (ICC) chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle, who had been due to hear the case.

 

In a statement Speed said the fact that the one-dayers were taking place from August 30 to September 10 meant it would be "extremely difficult" for a hearing to take place during that period.

 

Later in the day England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman David Morgan met with Pakistan counterpart Shaharyar and Inzamam for more than 30 minutes.

 

Morgan refused to explain what had been discussed, saying only: "I am always available to my counterparts with the Pakistan board, and that was the case today (Wednesday)," before adding he was in no position to comment further.

 

Meanwhile a spokesman for the legal team engaged by Pakistan denied reports that the tourists wanted the ICC to bring in a different referee to hear Inzamam's case.

 

"We want the original bloke. Clearly he has problems to deal with at the moment - but the situation has not changed," he said.

 

The one-day series, which is preceded by a Twenty20 match at Bristol on Monday, has been in jeopardy ever since Pakistan threatened a withdrawal if Inzamam received a lengthy ban for his part in the team's refusal to come back on the field on Sunday in protest at the award of five penalty runs to England by on-field umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove because of ball-tampering.

 

It is estimated that the cost of a cancelled one-day series to the ECB would be 10 million pounds (18.9 million dollars).

 

"We have looked at potential alternatives but, as the ICC's chief referee and a person with immense credibility within the game, Ranjan is the most appropriate person to adjudicate in this matter," Speed said.

 

"We are yet to decide upon a new date but the intense nature of the upcoming one-day international series between England and Pakistan is likely to make it extremely difficult to fit in a hearing during that period.

 

"I should stress that the reason for the postponement is related solely to Ranjan's availability," Speed said. Details of the new date and the venue for the hearing have yet to be announced.

 

Pakistan's forfeit was the first in the 129-year history of Test cricket and saw England secure a victory that gave them the four-match series 3-0.

 

Pakistan asked the ICC to bar Hair, who has been repeatedly accused of being biased against teams from the subcontinent, from officiating in any more of their matches.

 

But, in an earlier statement, Speed stressed that it was the responsibilty of ICC, and not individual countries, to select match officials "without fear or favour."

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)