PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani issues ultimatum to BCCI, demands written assurance on World T20

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ehsan Mani has said that he will demand to shift the T20 World Cup scheduled for later this year out of India in case the hosts refuse to give assurances in writing that it will fulfil all the obligations under the ICC host agreement under which they have to arrange visas for the squad of touring teams, along with of fans, and journalists from across the world.

"Our government has never told us that we can't play (in India). We have agreed with the ICC that we are going to participate and we can't contravene that. At the ICC level, I have clearly said we need a written assurance from the India government that not only our team and squad's visas, we also need visas for fans, journalists and the board officials, but that's also all written in the ICC host agreement and according to that we have put our demand,” Mani told the press in Lahore.

Notably, the next edition of the World T20was scheduled to take place in Australia, but the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the global tournament.

Mani also came hard on the International Cricket Council (ICC) for being lenient towards the BCCI and laid out an ultimatum till March for the Indian cricket board to submit its written assurances, otherwise, he will seek shifting of the event to the United Arab Emirates. He said that the PCB has all legal and constitutional rights to participate in the tournament and also the ICC already has a plan its place incase the BCCI withdraws its hands from the tournament.

"ICC has also been a bit loose on it as they told us that it will be done by Dec 31, 2020, but it didn't happen. I again raised it in January and in February directly with the ICC chairman, then I talked to ICC management and I told them that I need a clear decision by March. They are saying that by end of March. If it doesn't come, I will demand the shifting of the event from India to UAE,” Mani added.

"It's already been decided that if India can't hold the event it will be shifted to UAE. Legally and constitutionally it's our right to participate in the tournament and nobody can remove us from the tournament and the ICC chairman does realise this.”

Although the relationship between the PCB and BCCI has become bitter for a long period of time now, Mani cited the unfortunate and unhealthy link-up between politics and cricket of two nations. He added that there is no personal enmity with BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and that he does not have any issue in BCCI hosting the tournament provided it can provide assurances and convince every stakeholder of the global tournament.

"Unfortunately, it's unhealthy that especially cricket in India is being linked with politics. On a personal level, I have no problems with Sourav Ganguly and he is quite open about it, he wants to organise the tournament in India and I have no problems with it too if he can convince every stakeholder. But ICC has backup plans and if they (India) can't do it, it will be held at an alternative venue,” Mani added.