Butt South Africa-bound with 2011 World Cup agenda

Even as the 2011 World Cup is getting embroiled in legal a maze, there are speculations about a possible thaw between the two warring parties - the International Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board. Some kind of discussion if not an  agreement on the issue is likely here in South Africa as the top managers of the world cricket — including the ICC and the PCB officials — are expected to descend here for the final of the Indian Premier League.

DNA has learnt that PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, who has been on an offensive against the ICC with regard to the World Cup, will be here for the final. Butt, with the World Cup agenda, is expected to have some discussion with the ICC officials. Interestingly enough, the two key persons involved with the World Cup will not be here. Sharad Pawar, the chairman of the organising committee and Shashank Manohar, the president of the BCCI are unlikely to be at the final. There are unconfirmed reports that before coming here, the PCB chief may visit New Delhi for a discussion with Pawar and possibly also with Manohar.

Meanwhile, Ramiz Raza, the former CEO of the PCB, said ICC did not handle the issue properly. “The ICC, clearly, took the decision in a haste. It was a knee-jerk reaction,” Raza, here as a commentator for the IPL, told DNA.

The former Pakistan skipper felt that the world body should have taken note of the emotions of the Pakistan people. “It is not just a security issue. There are a lot of emotions involved. You can’t suddenly take away the tournament from of the people. I know no team is willing to visit Pakistan. The PCB should be allowed to host its quota of matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” Raza, who was once tipped to take over as the CEO of the world cricket body, said.

Meanwhile, how much of the Pakistan court order of staying the shifting of the World Cup secretariat from Lahore to Mumbai will have impact on the tournament could not be ascertained. The general perception is that the PCB should elicit an order from the Court of Arbitration for Sports based in Switzerland. The ICC, has already rejected the legal notice served on them by the PCB.

Unconfirmed reports have suggested that the ICC is likely to concede the PCB’s demand to reallocate its matches in the Middle East. The ICC position in terms of the PCB’s legal action is that the ICC doesn’t believe there is any substance to the PCB’s claim and it will vigorously defend this matter, an ICC spokesman told DNA.