Intikhab deprived of ICC assignment

Karachi, July 26: Intikhab Alam was deprived of the opportunity of getting an ICC assignment after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) failed to communicate to him about his appointment.

According to highly placed sources, the former captain was appointed as match referee for the final three Tests of the England-West Indies five-match series.

The ICC, which had picked Alam as referee well in advance, had also sent Intikhab's travel documents to the PCB.

But the PCB didn't deliver the ticket to Intikhab and continued to tell the former Surrey captain that it has not received anything from the ICC.

However, when Intikhab took up the case with ICC chief executive David Richards, he was shown the confirmation letters that the travel documents had been made available to the PCB.

After Intikhab Alam failed to confirm his availability for the three Tests, the ICC appointed another match referee, sources said.

Intikhab, who was unceremoniously removed as coach during the series against Sri Lanka, is said to be taking up the matter with the top hierarchy of the PCB. It is said that he will be demanding compensation besides lodging his complaint that he is being victimized.

Ironically, the PCB, while removing Intikhab, had claimed that the ICC wants his services as match referee.