The president of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohin Naqvi, underlined Wednesday the need to separate sports from political quarrels, while the referee of the Cricket Council (ICC) match, Andy Pycroft, apologized to the manager and captain of the Pakistan Cricket team.
Pycroft had prohibited the captains of India and Pakistan from shaking hands during their match, a decision that pulled a strong reaction from the PCB.
The referee called the September 14 incident to result from poor communication and apologized to management in person. The ICC expressed its desire to investigate the violation of the code of conduct which occurred during the match against India.
Addressing a press conference in Dubai, Naqvi said he had asked former PCB Najam Sethi and Ramiz Raja leaders to keep discussions because the decision to boycott – if it would have been significant.
He noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and several others were also involved in the process. Expressing gratitude, he said: “We do not know which decision should be made at the last moment, so we are grateful to Allah that he has confirmed the dignity of the country in accordance with the expectations of the nation.”
As a eye on performance, Naqvi said the team always had room to improve. “Even if there are weaknesses, we will rectify them. We have a panel of selectors who will examine performance, and I promise only if there are weaknesses, I will certainly ask them to overcome them.”
Sethi has strengthened that the PCB has always kept politics outside its field. “PCB has always held the position according to which there should not be policy in sport. Even when I was president, we had the same position, and even today, it remains the same. They played politics, but we did not do it. We have shown a sporting spirit, we asked for excuses, and they apologized.”
Raja also described recent developments as a victory for cricket. “It was a critical situation, the emotions were high, and I am happy that we did not make an emotional decision that could damage the cricket. I have always believed that the cricket team has to talk about its performance. They should make it move forward, and whatever the frustration or injured feelings, they should show it through their cricket and prove to the world how much we are a bit of cricket. “
He added that once the excuses occurred, it has become clear that the problem had to stay in the sports arena.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani cricket team arrived at the Dubai Cricket Stadium for their unmissable match against the United Arab Emirates (water), after receiving authorization from the President of the PCB. The water won the draw and chose to play against Pakistan.
