India's refusal to play with Pakistan: Pakistan to pursue dismantling of 'big three' structure: PCB

01 Dec, 2016

Pakistan will strongly pursue for dismantling of 'big three' structure if India refuses to play with Pakistan as per agreement. Chairman PCB Shaharyar Khan informed this to a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Inter-Provincial Co-ordination (IPC) held in the chair of Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan. Shaharyar said, "I am going to take up the matter with the ICC and other countries if India refuses to play with Pakistan in accordance with the MoU signed with Pakistan to its support to 'big-three'."
He said Pakistan was not ready to accept 'big-three' but after Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) offered six series to Pakistan in eight years, the PCB agreed to sign the MoU to accept the 'big-three' structure. He regretted that ICB refused to play with Pakistan in the first year, citing justification that their government was not allowing them.
"After one week I will meet the ICC officials who have already taken the decision in their last meeting to dismantle the 'big three' structure," Khan said. He also revealed that there are differences between President BCCI and ICC Chairperson over dismantling 'big-three' as Shashank Manohar, ICC chairperson, wants the big three to be dissolved while the president BCCI is against its dismantling.
Shaharyar also informed the committee that a number of steps are being taken to implement the recommendations of the committee for improvement of cricket at domestic level. The PCB, he added, has decided to establish two full-fledged cricket academies one each in Multan and Karachi, besides opening mini academies in Quetta, Abbottabad and Hyderabad.
The only difference between full-fledged and mini academies is of accommodation with mini academies having accommodation in bunkers. "We have also decided to develop cricket infrastructure in three areas including Balochistan, FATA and Peshawar because of children's enthusiasm about the game in these areas."
Shaharyar stated there are only nine cricket grounds under PCB control while remaining grounds are controlled by the district governments in various provinces. He said the committee must find out some ways and convince the district governments to hand over remaining cricket grounds to the PCB.
The committee was also informed about the factors leading to the decline in the performance of women cricket team with the official stating that average age of 27 years was being considered as major factor followed by little focus on Under-17 and A-level teams in recent years as well as issue of physical fitness.

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