The quadrangular one-day tournament was finalized for March next year
with an additional attraction of matches to be played in Pakistan and
India.
The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Zia
said from London that while the series had been confirmed, he had
proposed his Indian counterpart to share the league matches. "I have
proposed to AC Muthiah to host four matches while we will stage six,
including the final. I think it is an appealing proposal and should
attract the sponsors, in general, and the public, in particular," Zia
said Tuesday.
"We could have easily staged the entire tournament and kept all the
profits. But we also want to involve the Indian public in the
tournament which should be full of attraction and thrill," he said.
Zia said he would not hesitate to send his team to India to play in
any league matches of the competition that will also involve the West
Indies and Zimbabwe.
"If the proposal is agreed and the draw suggests Pakistan should cross
borders, I will send our team. We have never severed cricketing
relations with India and twice send our teams in 1999." Zia had
earlier this year threatened to sever ties with India after the
traditional rivals cancelled a scheduled Test tour to Pakistan and
then withdrew from April's Sharjah Cup because Pakistan was also one
of the contestants.
New Delhi, nevertheless, in a face-saving attempt, said it has decided
in principle that it would not allow its team to play on any nonregular venue for three years, a decision which stunned many in the
background that Sharjah has staged the highest number of limited overs
internationals. New Delhi further clarified that it had no problems
with the cricket team playing Pakistan in multi-lateral tournaments
but barred its team from facing Pakistan in a bilateral series. It was
on the basis of this policy that Indian cricket officials agreed to
send its team to Pakistan in September for the Asian Test Championship
match. If the Test is played as planned, it would be India's first
Test on Pakistan soil in almost 12 years.
The quadrangular tournament was in doubt after the West Indies decided
against touring Pakistan as per 10-year schedule. The West Indians,
nevertheless, reversed their decision and informed the Pakistan
delegates in London that they would honour the commitment.
Zimbabwe becomes the fourth team as they would be touring India at the
same time for a two-Test series. Zia, who also attended the annual
general meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Tuesday,
said he informed the house that he had no reasons to hold back or
delay the 1999 World Cup inquiry. "But at the same time, I have
stressed that England should reopen and ACU should investigate the
allegations levelled by Chris Lewis during the 1999 England vs New
Zealand series.
"I have also forced the ICC sleuths to inquire into allegations
levelled by Dr Ali Bacher against Pakistan and its retired Test umpire
Javed Akhtar. "Since he is the prime accuser, he should be grilled and
asked to substantiate his allegations which we take it in a bad
taste." Bacher accused Pakistan of deliberately throwing 1999 World
Cup matches to India and Bangladesh and also alleged that Javed Akhtar
was on the pay-roll of bookies after he gave nine leg before decisions
in the Headingley Test in 1998 which gave England a 2-1 series win.
While Pakistan last month appointed a Lahore High Court judge to probe
the allegations, Bacher told a South African inquiry that former PCB
chief executive Majid Khan had passed on this information to him. He,
however, admitted that he had no evidence to backup his claims.
Zia said although the ICC has approved all the 24 recommendations of
anti-corruption unit, they will come into effect once Malcolm Speed
takes over as ICC chief executive. Speed will take over from David
Richards who is expected to vacate office in September. Zia also
disclosed that Pakistan's permanent representative in the ICC, Ehsan
Mani, would be the next ICC chairman in 2003.
"On the basis of rotation, it is Pakistan's turn to have its candidate
as ICC chairman. We have nominated Ehsan Mani who received unanimous
vote of confidence from the house. "I think today is a big day for
Pakistan cricket whose candidate will head the ICC in 2003."