ISLAMABAD: Officials in Islamabad are unhappy with the letter of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that was written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last month seeking the federal government’s approval to participate in the World Cup.
In doing so, they have bypassed all established protocols, officials claim, taking up the matter with board officials exercising all powers at the time.
A top source told JEE News that PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Salman Naseer’s letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz was a violation of norms.
The standard procedure in this case is that a subordinate department goes to the concerned ministry to seek permission or update the higher authority on the matter, where approval is required.
After that, the concerned ministry sends a summary of the Prime Minister’s decision.
However, this procedure was ignored as the PCB wrote directly to the Prime Minister.
JEE News has learned that the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) was unhappy with the attitude of the PCB and has taken up the matter with the PCB officials in strong terms.
Moreover, sources say Nasir was briefed on the adventure, which would likely have far-reaching implications.
“We have taken up the matter with the COO of PCB and expressed our displeasure.
There is a default procedure that was not followed in this instance. We have expressed our displeasure and will examine what more we can do to that effect,” said a top ministry official.
It is worth mentioning here that former Election Commissioner Ahmad Shahzad Farooq Rana was the PCB Chairman after the term of the Provisional Management Committee expired on June 27.
PCB’s letter
The main purpose of the letter, a copy of which was also shared with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, was to seek the government’s approval for India to host the World Cup.
In a letter sent on June 27, the PCB had also sought the government’s advice on venues. The ICC has allocated five venues for Pakistan – Ahmedabad (vs India, 15 October), Hyderabad (vs both qualifiers, 6 and 12 October), Bengaluru (vs Australia 20 October and New Zealand), Chennai (vs 5 New Zealand on November). Afghanistan on 23 October and South Africa on 27 October, and Kolkata (Bangladesh on 5 November and England on 12 November).
If Pakistan reaches the semi-finals, they will play in Kolkata. The final will be held on November 15 in Ahmedabad.
“It is entirely up to the Government of Pakistan what procedures they want to devise and follow before advising us on the next steps. If it involves site inspections and meetings with event organisers. If an advance team needs to be sent to India to do so, a PCB spokesperson said the decision would be left to the government alone.
