Mani really laying into India here but does he have a point esp. after attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus In Lahore?
Do you agree with suggestions from Imran Khan and Javed Miandad that the sub-continent as a whole should have conceded World Cup hosting rights to Australia and New Zealand and deferred World Cup to a later date say 2015?
ABU DHABI - A former president of the International Cricket Council, has accused India of being behind the decision to shift World Cup 2011 matches away from Pakistan.
“The decision to move the World Cup out of Pakistan was ill-conceived and taken in haste and I am afraid to say that India has a big hand in this (decision),” Ehsan Mani, former president of the International Cricket Council (ICC), told AFP.
The ICC last month stripped Pakistan of its share of World Cup matches, citing the “uncertain security situation” in the country as the reason for its decision. The matches will now be held in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan had become an unsafe venue for international matches following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March which left seven players and their assistant coach injured besides killing eight policemen.
Mani, who is from Pakistan, said the decision on the World Cup was not on the agenda of the meeting. "From what I have heard, seen and spoken to PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) and number of other people, it wasn’t on the agenda at all in the meeting, the issue on the agenda was security situation in Pakistan after attacks on the Sri Lankan team. "If the intention of the ICC and its members was to move the World Cup 2011 away from Pakistan, it should have been properly discussed, proper concept papers should have gone out so that the PCB could have been prepared.
“A decision of this magnitude should have been discussed at length but I am afraid it’s an ill-conceived decision made in haste.”
Mani also blamed India for isolating its old rival Pakistan. "I believe that is the case (isolating Pakistan). I believe politics is mixed into cricket. Pakistan and India have got together, even at the time of uncertain political situation and it was historic that Pakistan and India revived cricket in 2004. “Cricket should cut all barriers and should not be used as it is used by our neighbours to isolate Pakistan,” he said.
Mani also backed suggestions from former Pakistan captains Imran Khan and Javed Miandad that South Asia should have swapped World Cups with Australia and New Zealand. "It would have been logical that all the countries should have got together and swapped the World Cup 2011 with Australia who were due to host the 2015 World Cup as situation in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is not good either.
Re: India behind World Cup move from Pakistan: Ehsan Mani
Of course India was behind this. They make big bucks for ICC. More matches, more $$, What does Pakistan has to offer, no booze, no security, no nothing...
Re: India behind World Cup move from Pakistan: Ehsan Mani
First time ever in history a cricket team was attacked - and that too in Pakistan !!
Did Ehsan Mani, Miandad and Imran really think that Pakistan had a realistic chance to to host the world cup after that ? And that too after BCCI voluntarily moved IPL-2 to SA citing security concerns (from Pak based terrorist outfits).
Re: India behind World Cup move from Pakistan: Ehsan Mani
^^ The Australian Tennis team was not ready to play in India, IPL has to be moved from India.. for some "election" reason, and you say that only Pakistan have the security issues, smell the coffee dude.. wakeup
Re: India behind World Cup move from Pakistan: Ehsan Mani
Obviously the ICC does not smell "your coffee" since they have decided to leave the WC matches (including 1 semi and finals) in India. And FYI, IPL was moved out of India by BCCI voluntarily.
Anyways, I dont want this to turn into another India vs. Pak thread.
You guys can continue finding scapegoats for why the WC was moved out of Pak :p
Obviously the ICC does not smell "your coffee" since they have decided to leave the WC matches (including 1 semi and finals) in India. And FYI, IPL was moved out of India by BCCI voluntarily.
Anyways, I dont want this to turn into another India vs. Pak thread.
You guys can continue finding scapegoats for why the WC was moved out of Pak :p
Re: India behind World Cup move from Pakistan: Ehsan Mani
Coming back to the topic, I think it might be better for PCB/Pak cricket authorities/fans/commentators/journalists to look inwards as to the cause of WC matches being taken away instead of pointing fingers at India.
And its about time they realized that Pak & India are just not in the same league. Just crying that India is "also not safe" does not mean that people will buy that story.
Maybe its time to move on, and focus on sending a good team for the T20 & the ODI world cups :p
I am merely trying to be the devil's advocate here :p I am not that India-centric myself. In the prevailing circumstances (Sri Lanka security fiasco etc.) I can perfectly understand why the World Cup had to be moved from Pakistan.
It's still two years away and things can and probably will change, if you know what I mean. :p
ICC is going to have to move WC out of Asia for one reason or another. Sooner our friends realize the better. But I understand it's time for you to gloat, for now at least... :p
