International Cricket Council (ICC) has responded on Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request for USD 60 million compensation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for neglecting the Future Tours & Programme (FTP) as the international cricket body has set up the three-member committee to look into that matter and take a decision.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), PCB and BCCI have decided to organise five bilateral series in between 2015-2023 international calendar. Among those five bilateral series, India has to play at least two away series against Pakistan at the neutral venue like the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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However, there are no bilateral series have been played yet. The last bilateral series between India-Pakistan was played in 2012/13 season on the Indian soil. Due to not following the FTP schedule by BCCI, PCB demands compensation of USD 60 million from BCCI.
To take any decision on this matter, ICC has set up the three-member panel that leading by Hon Michael Beloff QC. The other two members of this committee are Jan Paulsson and Dr. Anabelle Benett AO, SC.
According to the Hindustan Times, ICC released a statement where they revealed, “The International Cricket Council today confirmed that the Hon Michael Beloff QC will chair the Dispute Panel in the matter of proceedings between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The two other members of the panel, which has been established under the Terms of Reference of the ICC Disputes Resolution Committee, are Jan Paulsson and Dr. Anabelle Benett AO, SC.”
The hearing date has been scheduled for 1-3 October at Dubai. ICC also confirmed that the decision will be final and that will be non-appealable.
The ICC statement further added, “The hearing will take place as per article 10.4 of the Terms of Reference of the ICC Disputes Resolution Committee, the decision of the Dispute Panel shall be non-appealable and shall remain the full and final decision in relation to the matter and binding on all parties.”
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Meanwhile, a senior BCCI official revealed that they can only able to play a bilateral series against Pakistan if Indian government approves this. However, current political situations between the two countries are not looking good.
That senior BCCI official said, “Our contention is pretty simple. We will play Pakistan in ICC or multi-nation tournaments like Asia Cup but can’t engage in a bilateral series until we get a go-ahead from the union government. There are certain sensitive issues that we need to take note of. It’s not that ICC is unaware of what the circumstances are. The hearing is in October and there is still some time. Let’s wait and watch.”
