ICC pats Caribbeans

The West Indies Cricket Board won praise from the sport’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), for its presentation...

The West Indies Cricket Board won praise from the sport’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), for its presentation to the ICC forum on the region’s preparations for the 2007 World Cup.

Chris Dehring, managing director of the CWC 2007, assured the forum following the ICC’s annual general meeting in London the West Indies is ready for the sport’s showpiece.

Pakistan to host India
‘A’ in tri-series

Karachi: Pakistan confirmed on Tuesday they will host an Indian side for the first time since 1998 when they stage an ‘A’ team triangular one-day tournament, also involving Sri Lanka, in November. ‘‘The tournament is part of our initiative to eventually pave way for restoration of bilateral ties at the senior level with India,’’ Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Samiul Hasan said. India last visited Pakistan for a full Test series in1988-89. An Indian A team toured Pakistan in 1998. Pakistan will also play India at ’A’ team level when SriLanka stage a one-day triangular tournament next month.

Story continues below this ad

Dehring told delegates from 89 countries, as well as the major commercial partners of world cricket and the international media that preparations for the World Cup had been ongoing since 1998.

He said consultations with international experts and officials had taken place, as well as observation of various world games including the visit by a Caribbean delegation to South Africa to meet with organisers of this year’s renewal which was a huge success. Dehring noted there had been significant preparation of development plans for venues around the region and a key milestone was the completion of the master plan for the tournament.

• Latif reprimanded
Karachi: Pakistan authorities have reprimanded captain Rashid Latif for going public with a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) saying bookmakers were still trying to influence matches. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Ramiz Raja said on Tuesday that Latif had violated board regulations governing players under contract by going public.

• Summons to Shoaib over slurs on mates
Karachi: A civil court in Lahore has summoned express pacer Shoaib Akhtar to respond to a petition alleging statements he made about fellow cricketers tarnished Pakistani pride.
Akhtar has been summoned to appear on July 27 after a private citizen moved the petition, they said. Akhtar told Britain’s Guardian newspaper: “Imagine if I was playing for Australia with McGrath and Gillespie softening them up, then I come on, I would have got more wickets than anyone ever, mate.”
The petitioner said Akhtar’s remarks were an affront to Pakistani pride. AFP

Story continues below this ad

Following the ICC forum, Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive officer, observed that Dehring’s presentation had been well received by the delegates. ‘‘It provided an opportunity for cricket’s leaders from around the world to understand and appreciate the way in which the West Indies is preparing to stage the biggest event in international cricket – the ICC cricket World Cup – in 2007,’’ remarked Speed.

Ehsan Mani, the recently elected president of the ICC, also expressed his appreciation of the information that Dehring shared with members of the world body and the media.

‘‘The presentation by Chris gave the cricket world an excellent understanding of the enthusiasm and professionalism that the West Indies is bringing to staging the ICC cricket World Cup,’’ he said.