DUBAI, (Reuters) – The International Cricket Council (ICC) has resolved its dispute with Pakistan after the country was removed as joint host of the 2011 World Cup over security concerns.
The agreement was reached at a meeting between ICC president David Morgan and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt yesterday, ensuring the PCB drops its legal challenge after 14 games it had been allocated were shifted to co-hosts India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The two parties have agreed the PCB will retain its host fees and also receive an additional payment as compensation, said an ICC statement.
“I’m glad we were able to come to an amicable agreement and I believe this is a fair resolution for the PCB and the ICC,” Morgan said.
“This resolution is good for world cricket and provides an improved platform for the World Cup as we now have a degree of certainty surrounding the event that was not there while the dispute was ongoing.”
PROLONGED TALKS
The settlement had been expected after prolong discussions between both parties.
The ICC board decided in April to shift the matches out of Pakistan after security concerns were heightened when gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March, killing seven people and injuring six players.
The PCB has been hit hard, with last year’s ICC Champions Trophy postponed and now due to be staged in South Africa next month.
Pakistan welcomed Thursday’s resolution, hoping it would lead to a revival of their cricket which is suffering due to the refusal of teams to tour the country.
“The PCB is content with the settlement that has been reached,” Butt said. “We’re able to see this dispute from the other side.
“Our number one priority is that cricket in Pakistan must not be allowed to suffer unduly and I believe this agreement is the best possible outcome for the game.”
