Zaka Ashraf confirms 'Big Four' offer
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LAHORE: Former Pakistan cricket chief Zaka Ashraf confirmed an offer by India to join the so-called “big three” during a major reorganisation of the game's administration.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was initially one of three countries which opposed the revamp of the International Cricket Council (ICC) approved by members in February.
The move handed the majority of the powers and revenues to the “big three”of the game -- India, Australia and England.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstained from voting on the reforms, but since then Sri Lanka have hinted they will sign the draft.
Reacting to the claims by current PCB chairman, Najam Sethi, who said Pakistan were offered a seat at the table but declined, Ashraf confirmed an offer was floated at one stage but said it was never a firm commitment.
“They did offer us to join the group but when I went to attend the ICC meeting in February India stepped back from its offer, claiming two other members of the body -- Australia and England -- are not ready to admit Pakistan as a fourth member,” Ashraf said.
“Whatever India offered us was not on paper and we could not have taken those verbal assurances,” he added told reporters.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sacked Ashraf two days after the “big three” reforms were approved, reappointing Sethi who himself was suspended by Islamabad high court in January over alleged irregularities in his appointment.
Sethi, who will attend the ICC meeting in Dubai on April 9-10, said his main aim now was to revive ties with India.
India have not played a full bilateral series with Pakistan since the 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai.
Pakistan toured India for a brief limited-over series in December 2012-January 2013.
The ICC meeting is set to discuss the legal perspectives of the proposed governance model.
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On DawnNews
Comments (54) Closed
Apr 08, 2014 03:09pm
I, for one am glad that we stood for 'cricket' & didn't sell our soul; for a change.
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Apr 08, 2014 03:12pm
We were so proud that Pakistan took a principled stand only to know that it was never a question of principles. We didn't vote for Big3 only because they didn't give us on writting that we can be one of them? So it is the same Zaka Ashraf or Sethi both have no principles and now I am happy that we ended up alone, we deserve it.
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Apr 08, 2014 03:24pm
Why adopt a holier than thou approach and cry foul when South Africa voted for the big three. So this means if India had made them a good offer on paper, they would have taken it. Somehow that doesn't surprise me.
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Apr 08, 2014 03:56pm
Ties with India are controlled by the masters in Pindi. They are the real culprits, unless they are mellowed down forget a series with India.
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Apr 08, 2014 04:03pm
what's the point of these pointless cravings for some self-worth being expressed right now. Let's work on the team instead.
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Apr 08, 2014 04:55pm
Seems Pakistanis are against the revival of cricket in their nation . Acceptance of this offer might have revived cricket in Pakistan . But seems this violence-hit country has forgotten the word of diplomacy.Good luck !!
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Apr 08, 2014 05:03pm
Media politics: Heading is wrong interpretation of what Zaka is trying to expalian. Like all other Media groups dawn also seemed to be politically alligned with Sathi.
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Apr 08, 2014 05:07pm
we should not beg for everything ....its india old enemy dont forget its hypocracy mr zaka....
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Apr 08, 2014 05:34pm
I have a better idea. How about teaching our team to play cricket first. Then the rest will fall in to place itself.
"Khudhi ko kar buland itna. .... ... "
Who knows, one day they come begging at our door step wanting us to be included in the big 3, 4, or 5. Who knows.
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Apr 08, 2014 05:47pm
As confirmed by the former PCB chief, BCCI only made a verbal offer which in essence is of zero value because it can't be taken for granted by any educated, mature, civilized and intelligent person. As per the famous saying:
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A person of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds.
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Therefore verbal offer of BCCI did not carry any weight or significance because everybody knows that when discussions held between individuals, they say many things to each others. Nevertheless, what they say is not binding on them or anybody else unless and until they substantiate and qualify it in writing.
In conclusion, the hand-picked current PCB chief is just trying to make a mole out of mountain as they say in order to get cheap publicity and maybe trying to please his masters in order to promote and protect his vested interests.
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Apr 08, 2014 05:58pm
@IbDi:
Er... we couldn't sell our soul because India didn't bid for it
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Apr 08, 2014 06:02pm
It's like PPP and PML n taking turns at the chair scratching each others back. For heavens sake appoint a former cricketer who has some patriotism and passion for the game.
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Apr 08, 2014 06:07pm
@IbDi:
Take your principled stand to the bank and try to get a loan and see how much it is worth.
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Apr 08, 2014 07:05pm
So Mr.Sethi is not lying. We don't know all details but verbal offer usually is part of negotiations followed later by written agreements.May be Pakistan has not shown interest or have not pursued enough.
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Apr 08, 2014 07:06pm
Almost everything in life, we need assess if the benefit outweigh's the cost/risk. I am afraid PCB shot itself on it's foot and now they will have to limp their way back to ICC. But, it is not too late to save Pak cricket.
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Apr 08, 2014 07:08pm
@Shahid:
How can you say it was not a principled stand? He could have begged the Big Three like all the other Pakistani institutions do in front of foreign governments. He didn't and for that very reason Mr. Sharif didn't like it b/c as a Sharif you should always beg!
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Apr 08, 2014 07:10pm
@Naeem:
You are right on money my friend!
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Apr 08, 2014 07:11pm
@BRR:
It is worth a lot or else IMF, WB wouldn't give a loan. So I guess taking a stand does increase your value. It is all about your market value, isn't it?
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Apr 08, 2014 07:15pm
India's verbal assurance should have been made public by Mr Zaka Ashraf immediately at that time so that India would not have been in a position to go back. And why India's verbal assurance was not not believed? What better options were available before PCB by not believing? Now finally PCB stands isolated. PCB in between accused SL & SA Boards as having cheated PCB.
How does the question of compromise on principles come here? What principles and what compromise ? Changes were incorporated based on commerce and managing funds. In our joint family, don't we give more importance to a person who earns more money? Same principle applies to national and international Boards. Yet PCB was invited to be a part of Big 4 based on Pakistan's importance in cricket. Why does ZA or NS lie ? As usual PCB messed up the whole thing just because PCB did not trust BCCI. Pl have some faith in institutions that run the cricket or for that matter that run the country. I wonder how average Pakistanis distrusts everything around him.
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Apr 08, 2014 07:27pm
@IbDi:
LOL....But even thing else is being sold in Pakistan without any problem ....
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Apr 08, 2014 07:51pm
So in nutshell , the "principle stand" was taken as there was no written guarantees otherwise Pakistan was OK with Big 3 proposal. Now what kind of "principle" stand this is? May be the kind which only Pakistan can understand.
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Apr 08, 2014 08:06pm
all of them are brain less cricket pundants. they should bring some sensible brains like ehsan mani , touqeer zia. politices eats pakistan each department and each regions.
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Apr 08, 2014 08:07pm
@Adil Farooq:
average players like akmal brothers will raise this countries cricket. huh what a piety.
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Apr 08, 2014 08:30pm
So Ashraf lied to the nation when he said on return from Singapore that he abstained from voting out of principle and national honour. He has now added shame to the stupidity of his action.
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Apr 08, 2014 08:33pm
@anil: Dude, as Zaka Ashraf said, nothing was clear or sure. Let me put the question to you - would you accept a blind offer? As for revival of cricket in Pakistan, our problem is related to terrorism, not diplomacy. As for cricket as a whole, India has already destroyed most of cricket and it will continue to do so. This big three nonsense is just a small manifestation.
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Apr 08, 2014 08:52pm
just like they were fearing that india will backout from their verbal commitments when put on paper, same would have applied to zaka...he could have also backed out last moment if the verbal commitment was not put into paper..not sure why he didnt accepted on the verbal commitment on first place and then would have waited to check whats on paper.. he can always decline to sign ....isnt it?
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Apr 08, 2014 08:54pm
its like crying on foul play even before seeing what's on paper ...negotiations are always verbal in such cases ...they can't just go on type on paper for every minor changes in negotiations....the claims by zaka doesn't make sense
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Apr 08, 2014 09:58pm
Another conspiracy theory???
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Apr 08, 2014 10:01pm
Saap nikal gaya ab lakeer pitne se kya faida
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Apr 08, 2014 10:44pm
Sports generate revenues, anywhere and every sport.
If Pakistan wishes to use it's "old enemy" approach in everything and blame the neighbour for everything including them becoming a part of Big 3, and therefore, somehow unprincipled, it is not going to change the fact that kids in India (and England and Australia) will get more leagues supported by their boards from school level onwards to play and enjoy the game they all love. The revenues are helping in that. Even Sri Lanka and S Africa have set aside portion of cricket revenues for school cricket encouragement in a v large way.
Be sporting - don't spite your face by cutting off your own nose if you do not like your reflection in the mirror is an old saying....maybe Pakistan cricket fans should use it to stop pontificating on enemy India and Big 3 members and understand that no one owes Pakistani cricket (or foreign policy) a living. Unless you participate positively to help each other.
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Apr 08, 2014 11:29pm
Can we stick to cricket and stop speculating about what India offered and what they didn't. The team seems to be in disarray following the poor showing in world T20. Younis Khan's T20 world cup seems like a distant memory. It is clear after this world cup that there is a method to the madness that is T20 and just throwing your bat at everything does not make you a good player even in this format. I would even argue that our best bet is to bring the batsmen with the correct technique even in this format. Kohli and Sangakara are the two cases in point - both top test players.
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Apr 09, 2014 12:38am
@zafar: by saying India destroyed Cricket, I assume you are referring to IPL and how India made hundreds of cricketers Indians and international players millionaires, and how it gave livelihood to several old players as coaches, commentators, mentors and thousands of small vendors or staff some extra earnings. You can not look at any Sport as "Puritan" , commercializing is good which feeds more families at the end.
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Apr 09, 2014 12:53am
@Ravi Dallas TX:
"how India made hundreds of cricketers Indians and international players millionaires" this is exactly the point Ravi that many Pakistanis are objecting to. You believe in selling one's soul to get money rich?? Imran Khan could have easily done this ten times over, yet he was and still is known for his level of class and dignity he brought to the Pakistani and British cricket scene, w/o selling his soul like all your IPL players, coaches and admins have done. Truly a sad statement Ravi!
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Apr 09, 2014 02:46am
It is good that Pakistan did not opt for the "Super Four" it is in greater good of the game.
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Apr 09, 2014 07:09am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad:
dr. saab, educated, mature, civilized and intelligent person is one who converts the verbal offer into written docs. India at least offered you verbally and what about australia an england, who did't even like to take your name for inclusion in big four. I personally feel that mr. nazam sethi has the influence on indian lobby and is an intelligent person
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Apr 09, 2014 08:54am
IF PM had to choose a loser for PCB then we had enough cricketing losers. Why on earth he chose loser like Sethi who is good at nothing. He punctured our cricket too. Such disgrace.
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Apr 09, 2014 09:15am
@Shahid: 39 people (so far) like your comments, and it is likely to increase... so many BLIND people like you? Please read Anuj's comment below...you are killing yourself by being so pontificating man...
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Apr 09, 2014 09:30am
@Adil Farooq:
I like your comments, a bit of patriotism a bit of arrogance but you are correct though it is a distant dream. think for reviving Pakistani cricket somehow, its good for overall development of sport, since every country has something unique to offer to the game.
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Apr 09, 2014 11:39am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad: I fully endorse your views.A Bannia is after all a Bannia.He would have used the acceptance by Mr Zaka to degrade the people of Pakistan.
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Apr 09, 2014 11:58am
@SYEDA SARA BATOOL: I love you
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Apr 09, 2014 12:57pm
It is downfall of Pakistan Cricket. They are making all wrong decisions. Self destructive mode. They do not know how to come back.
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Apr 09, 2014 04:58pm
So Zaka made ii clear. Now PCB and Sethi should focus on job in hand that is to improve Pak ODI and Test cricket team.
As long as we have a good playing eleven these matters mean nothing. Look at Srilanka who was also against big three but they answered back by winning ASIA Cup and T20 title. Sethi Saab for sure Srilanka has a better chance to join big three to make it BIG FOUR...-
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Apr 09, 2014 05:12pm
@Akhter Husain:
Yes bro you are right... A Baniya is always Baniya and A Bhikari is always a Bhikari...
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Apr 09, 2014 05:52pm
@Real Touch: On the same lines can we say "A self destructing fool will always be a self destructing fool"?
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Apr 10, 2014 01:53am
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad:
Don't you think every commitment starts with verbal discourse first. Or in your order of things you sign a document fist and then explain what it is - like signnig on a dotted line.
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Apr 10, 2014 04:26am
There you go. Despite an offer (verbal or written) the old rivalry prevailed on ZA. Do you think India Australia and Britain had a written agreement before they proposed the whole idea. RIP cricket in Pakistan, after Squash it's will be the new causality.
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Apr 10, 2014 11:06am
All the offers are verbal, once you accept it then you get it on paper countersigned.
Thank god BCCI didnt take PCB's word for it, who knows after getting offer on paper they would have voted against them. Not that they have chairmen who lasts for more than few weeks.
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Apr 10, 2014 11:08am
BCCI was very generous to its neighbor board. Had they made the same offer to SL, South Africa or WI then would have walked on their back to accept it.
BCCI gave offer to wrong board and ended up being a bad guy.
PCB had made the mess of it.
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Apr 10, 2014 01:24pm
hahaha big four?
how?
no international matches there..
no income sources
no businessman investments in cricket...n pakistan
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Apr 10, 2014 03:49pm
@SYEDA SARA BATOOL: Hahaha I smell sour grapes here. In reality, PCB should have accepted whatever BCCI was offering them. Anyways, better sense should prevail next time round.
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Apr 10, 2014 07:19pm
@Zafar:
younis khan led from the front with his running be the wkts, his technically correct batting, fuekding and positive captaincy to win the t20 world cup in 2009. He needs to be brought back fir world cup 2015. Big need for professional in Pakistan cricket.
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Apr 10, 2014 07:21pm
Like my pakistani friends, I am really convinced with their comments. Its good to see them sticking to the principles rather than money. This world is so cruel to not to pay any heeds to pakistani sufferings. In fact I would suggest that they play with only those who support their ideologies. Show the world that how cricket is played without money. Show the world how players play for free. Show world how coaches train for free. Show the world how PCB works without money. I am proud of you'll friends. Keep it up. Up and up.
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Apr 11, 2014 01:33am
WEell done Zaka, al least you can stand in front of Allah and say i did my job and did not sold the country to low life .......trust and india are 2 different words
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Apr 11, 2014 12:42pm
Something as fishy as this matter, cannot put on paper..:-). Pak shud have accepted the offer. It would have forced others to play with it
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