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PCB unfazed by boycott threats

Karachi: With cricketers threatening to boycott the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the Pakistan Cricket Board made it clear that the biennial event will not be affected even if the best of players opt out.

“No matter what happens even, if the world’s best players don’t come, the tournament will not be affected,” PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf said.

“In the past, we had examples when many top quality cricketers did not participate in the tournament with their own consent... and we cannot force anybody to come but we shall welcome everybody,” he said during a visit to the Pakistan training camp in Kakul.

He said the issue of imposing penalties on teams which back out of the event rested solely with the International Cricket Council and was not the jurisdiction of the Board.

“We would say it is the duty of the ICC to ensure participation of all teams in the tournament. We can only ensure the best possible arrangements for the event,” he said.

Ashraf also lashed out at the countries and players who are making negative statements about playing in Pakistan and about the security scenario here. “I don’t think any country can guarantee absolute conditions but we have been making the best possible foolproof arrangements in Pakistan and our efforts in the recent Asia Cup were also appreciated by the ICC security consultants,” he said.

“We have started work in coordination with the ICC and foreign security consultants to ensure a high level of security for the participating teams, media and other stakeholders in the tournament,” Ashraf said. — PTI

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