The International Cricket Council’s Pakistan Task Team (PTT) has found the PCB lacking in governance, cricket administration, playing structure, financial viability and communications. According to an ICC official, the PTT completed its work and presented a comprehensive report comprising 63 recommendations covering the key areas where the PCB needs to make improvements.
The PTT comprises Giles Clarke (chairman), Mike Brearley, Peter Chingoka, Haroon Lorgat (ICC Chief Executive), Ranjan Madugalle, Ramiz Raja, and David Richardson (ICC General Manager- Cricket).
Lorgat thanked the PTT members and the PCB for their constructive engagement during the past two years. He added: “The report was adopted unanimously by the ICC Board and I am pleased that the PCB will consider this report at its next Board meeting.”
The ICC Executive Board also noted a request from the PCB to consider hosting an ICC event in Pakistan in 2018. No discussion was held and no assurances were given as the ICC has no confirmed event currently scheduled for 2018.
Lorgat said: “We fully understand the PCB request and we will consider if it is possible to host an event in Pakistan subject to the standard safety and security clearances.”
Pakistan is a place where no international cricket has been played since March 2009.
The absence of incoming tours has hit the PCB financially, forcing it to approve a deficit budget as it ‘hosts’ teams on neutral territory. No team has visited Pakistan due to security concerns since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.
On the other hand the ICC has deferred until October a proposal to abolish the rotational policy on appointing the governing body’s president.
“The board has decided to defer the proposed constitutional amendment to the nominations process for election of president,” the ICC said in a statement at the end of a two-day meeting of its executive board.
Scrapping the rotational policy would impact on Pakistan and Bangladesh the most as the South Asian countries are due to nominate the successor to New Zealander Alan Isaac as ICC president in 2014. Isaac is to take over from incumbent Sharad Pawar of India next year.
The executive board also revised its stadium policy based on this year’s World Cup experiences and venues for ICC events will now have to be match-ready six months before a game.
“Even though the (2011) event was hugely successful it is important for us to learn lessons so we can continually improve our events,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.
The 2011 World Cup organisers were left red-faced when an ICC inspection team dropped an under-prepared Eden Gardens as the venue of the India v England match barely a month before the game.
Lorgat also said the ICC was planning a special celebration for next month’s England v India match at Lord’s – cricket’s 2,000th test.