 PCB banks on Asian support to curb negative campaign
22nd Jun 2008 20:00 IST
Agencies
The PCB is banking on support from its Asian counterparts, particularly the BCCI, to fight the Australian and English campaign "aimed at discrediting" Pakistan as an unsafe venue for hosting the Champions Trophy.
Senior England players have reportedly threatened to revolt against their Board and boycott the tournament, forging a common front with their Australian counterparts in expressing apprehensions over the security situation in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is no mood to take it lying down and plans to forge its own alliance with Asian boards to garner support on the security situation.
"Once again some countries and their players, media and representatives have started this campaign about it being unsafe to play in Pakistan.
"But this time we are going to garner strong support of the Indian, Sri Lankan, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, South African and West Indian boards to resist this campaign to discredit Pakistan as not being a safe place to play international cricket," a senior PCB official said.
"We are counting on our friends in the boards including India to support us strongly on this issue. We are also confident that England will back us," he stated.
The official, however, denied that any board has officially conveyed their concern about sending the team to participate in the tournament.
"Till now no board has officially told us they are worried about the security and playing in Pakistan. No board has officially intimated us they will be sending their security experts for inspection visit.
"But yes, this campaign which has started three months before the Champions Trophy does worry us," he added.
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