Around the Wicket - A Farcical Trophy? - Web Blog - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Fan blogs

Around the Wicket - A Farcical Trophy?

I was reading that the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Nasim Ashraf doesn’t care if some of the world’s best players pull out of the ICC Champions Trophy in September. Apparently, he believes that the “security concerns” are unfounded, because there are many Australian citizens working and living in Pakistan. He believes that if players opt to sit out of the tournament, it would not make any difference, and it would be the players’ loss. He’s also touting the Asian Cup success in Pakistan as proof that major tournaments can be held in their country.

Call me crazy, but if I was the chairman of a cricket board hosting a major tournament, I would be as keen as possible for as many of the world’s best players to be in attendance. It would be good if Nasim would actually visit with the boards of the concerned countries, and sit down and discuss their concerns, rather than just dismissing them right off the bat. In waving away these fears, he’s proving that he’s an uncaring businessman, unconcerned for the game of cricket.

In waving away these fears, he’s indirectly encouraging 4 countries to withdraw from the Champions Trophy. If that happens – the Trophy becomes a farce, and a watered down version of the Asian Cup plus the West Indies.

Not that it’s entirely Nasim Ashraf’s fault that this tournament is turning into a water cooler joke. Once again the ICC has bowed to pressure from the Asian bloc, and turned their attention to the money, rather than the players, you know – the ones who actually play the game.

Here are a few points from the ICC’s Mission Statement – taken from their website.

• We care for cricket. Everything we do and every decision we make is motivated by a desire to serve the game better.

• We are fair, just and utterly impartial.


• Cricket's players and supporters deserve the best. It is our duty to set the highest standards.

I wonder if they can claim to be meeting those 3 points by going ahead with the Trophy in Pakistan?

What do you think? Should the Trophy go ahead in Pakistan? Should Australia send players? Is the ICC utterly impartial?

Mon 28/07/2008 Dave Bremner 43 views

3 Comments about this article

  • you care about ODI cricket brem?

    the ICC can do whatever it wants with it

    Posted by Udara Wis Mon Aug 04, 2008 08:03pm AEST
  • I call it the Subcontinental Mafia. This trophy should be played every two years between World Cups and not as present.

    Posted by John Campo Tue Aug 05, 2008 08:56am AEST
  • There are too many ODI competitions around the world, that's for sure. You know - it's been 16 years since Australia last held a meaningful tournament. There's one on the subcontinent every year it seems...

    Posted by Dave Bremner Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:03am AEST

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.