Ehsan Mani takes a hard line on Zimbabwe

Ehsan Mani, the ICC president, has said that the ECB has been given time until its board meeting in April to announce its decision about touring Zimbabwe, but warned that failure to do so would invite a substantial fine, and possibly suspension.

Speaking to the media in Karachi, Mani reiterated the ICC's stated policy that the only criterion for boycotting a member nation was a statement from the government that it was unsafe to tour. "The ICC has a policy that if a team does not play for any reasons other than safety, [then] the minimum fine is two million dollars," Mani said, "and that is the minimum - there is also the possibility of suspension from the ICC. We have some serious powers in our hands but I hope we don't have to use it."

However, Mani sought to separate England's right to stage the Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held there this September, from the Zimbabwe tour. "There is no question of waiting for the Champions Trophy contract to be signed - they are separate issues. Even if an agreement is signed it doesn't mean that the Champions Trophy cannot be moved."

Mani made it clear that there had been no talks between the ICC and the BCCI about about shifting the Champions Trophy to India. "There has been no request by the BCCI," Mani said. "If it is to be shifted it will only be on grounds that suit all the teams."

However, Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI president, who was alongside Mani at the impromptu media conference, held to accommodate interview requests from the huge media contingent from as far and wide as Japan and San Francisco, adopted a more belligerent stance on the issue. "We have not forgotten that when our parliament said we cannot go to Pakistan, Lord MacLaurin [then the ECB chairman] said India should be banned," he said. "Now I want to know what Lord MacLaurin is going to say? I would like to ask him, 'How should we deal with you?' When it was India's turn he wanted a ban ... now how has this changed all of a sudden?"

Inevitably, the conversation shifted to the significance of India's tour of Pakistan, and the emergence of the Asian bloc as a powerful force within the ICC. Both Mani and Dalmiya ended up singing from the same hymn-sheet. Both stressed on the importance of regular India-Pakistan encounters. "An Indo-Pak series was long overdue," said Mani. "I hope it is going to be the first step in the long road to rebuilding confidence among the two countries. It is not only good for Indian and Pakistani cricket, but [for] the whole world. There was no doubt that without the two countries playing, cricket was poorer. The main winner from this series would be cricket."

Dalmiya echoed Mani's thoughts: "Now we have taken it for granted that there are going to be reciprocal series with the two teams visiting each other once every two years - the next time India tour, we will respect the sentiments of the cricket-loving people of Karachi, and we will play a Test match here."

When asked about the strengthening of the Asian bloc, Mani answered with a flourish. "It is not a question of a bloc. Asia represents 40% of the ICC. Virtually, Asia is the ICC. A strong Asia means a strong ICC."