ACF to be proposed later this month

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman, Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia, said in Dhaka today that the ACC is not interested in confronting the International Cricket Council (ICC), when asked about Jagmohan Dalmiya's threat that the Asian countries will boycott the ICC knockout tournament in Nairobi starting October 15.

Lt. Gen. Zia, who is the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said that the ACC was only keen to secure an increase in development fund for Asia. Currently the ACC draws 10 percent from the ICC for development projects. The ACC has demanded that it receive 50 percent. In the unlikely event that Bangladesh do not get Test status, the ACC would like to see the figure increased further, to between 62 and 63 percent.

Lt Gen Zia said "It is very important for the Asian cricket-playing nations to come together." When the ACC meets in London on June 27 it will propose the formation of an Asian Cricket Foundation. If that proposal is ratified, the foundation will start functioning from June 28. Dalmiya is the chairman-designate of the ACF.

In addition to the ACF, an anti corruption committee will be formed to ensure honest functioning of the ACF. The ACF will have Dalmiya as chairman, and will have as members former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Bukhatir of the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series, Ashraf-ul Haq of the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the board presidents of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and UAE.

In conclusion, Lt. Gen. Zia, drove home the point of the market potential in the region, "Asia is a huge market for cricket. The aim of the ACC is to market the game, event management and also human development. We will be working towards achieving those goals."