Mumbai: Cricket Australia’s President Creag Oc’onnor has revealed on Friday that it would wait till the outcome of the ICC’s Task Force team before deciding the composition of its team for the Champions Trophy.
Speaking from Adelaide on Friday, few hours after the ICC decided to hold Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the President said, “I have full confidence in the members of the Task Force. It is a team of the competent people and we are looking forward to their outcome of work before we decide about our team for the Champions Trophy.”
Barring David Morgan, who is the ICC President, interestingly the Task Force team doesn’t have any member from the countries - Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa, who are against touring Pakistan over their security concerns.
Apart from Morgan, Haroon Lorgat (CEO), I S Bindra (chief advisor), Sharad Pawar (BCCI President) and Dr. Naseem Ashraf (PCB President) and representatives of ICC’s Broadcast Partner ESPN STAR Sports, the ICC’s independent security advisers and the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) are part of the Task Force.
“At this stage, we do not have a clear understanding on the terms of reference and role given to the ICC Task Force which has been announced. We of course have a general understanding that it will look at ICC Champions Trophy issues causing concerns to a number of ICC member nations,” Peter Young, the CA official said from Melbourne.
“We note that on the face of it, the Task Force seems to have a range of interests and expertise represented, and we are confident of the independent manner in which the current Chairman and current CEO of the ICC have addressed the issues during the last few days,” said Young, adding, “We also note that the Task Force has invited FICA to participate and note that FICA’s Mr Tim May, an Australian, has a track record for independent assessment of global cricket issues. We also note that the broadcaster, ESS, has been invited to participate, adding the independence of their voice to the process.”
“There are a lot of vexed issues which need to be addressed and resolved,” Young signed off.
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