The PCB challenges the ICC's position on the ICL bans by including Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved and Imran Nazir in their T20 World Cup squad.

by Abdul Habib

 

In a bold and calculated move the PCB have forced the ICC onto the back foot, they've included the ICL-tainted trio of Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naved and Imran Nazir in their squad of 30 probables for the T20 World Cup. Before the PCB's change of heart the ICC had been skirting the issue of the ICL bans by placing the responsibility squarely at the door of the individual governing bodies.

As far as the ICC were concerned it was a decision to be made locally, it was a good plan and an easy way to keep everyone happy. Well at least it was a good plan if each board had kept playing follow the leader. What the ICC couldn't have predicted was that a PCB with nothing left to lose would break ranks and put the ball back in the ICC's court. The PCB have forced the ICC to do what it's supposed to do and actually make a ruling on the ICL bans.

The PCB hasn't done anything wrong but the ICC is understandably upset because they've been ruling by consensus for so long that they've forgotten how to make a decision.

What must really be worrying the ICC is that the tournament in question is being held in England and if the PCB stick to their guns then the issue may end up going to an English court! That would be the worst thing that could happen to the ICC because the ECB have already allowed ICL players to play domestic cricket. The English courts would probably follow the Packer ruling about restraint of trade and the ICL players would likely be allowed to play.

In fact if the ICL bans are challenged in any country they're quite likely to be overturned because the ICC has no right to prevent players from playing in a legal cricket league. The ICC's legal case has already been tested in the Sindh High Court in Pakistan and has fallen at the first hurdle with the court overturning the domestic ban pending a full court hearing or an appeal from the PCB.

The ICC's best hope is to get all the boards together and put enough pressure on the PCB to make them drop the ICL players from their squad. Perhaps that is what will happen, it could even be that this is what the PCB intended to happen. Perhaps the PCB is looking for a bargaining chip or some sort of leverage with the ultimate intention of dropping the ICL players when they get their way.

However if that's not the case and the PCB is serious about taking ICL corrupted players to an ICC event, where they may contaminate BCCI and IPL employees, then the ICC is in for a lot of grief. The BCCI's recent attempt to dictate who could play for a NZ domestic team and even who could commentate on an Indian match has not won it too many friends.

Not to forget that New Zealand is really missing Shane Bond, South Africa could easily work Justin Kemp into it's T20 squad and the English counties are unhappy about having to choose between ICL players or the World T20 Club Championship. Given the above if the PCB plays its cards right then the support is there, it's ready to be called upon if India try and throw a tantrum again.

Unlike the T20 Club Championship or a bi-lateral series, the ICC can't step back and let the BCCI bully everyone into line this time. It's now up to the ICC to actually do something and it seems to be frightening them to death.

Do the ICC put an end to this ICL fiasco and risk the defending T20 champions pulling out of the T20 World Cup? Or do they risk taking the ICL case to court and open themselves up to a humiliating loss that will be splashed all over the media and lead to many in the current board losing their jobs?

Whatever happens we have an interesting few months ahead of us in world cricket.