MacLaurin denies double standards over Stewart issue

Lord MacLaurin has dismissed any talk of double standards or hypocrisy by the ECB over the Alec Stewart issue.

Despite Stewart being named in the CBI report, the England team has decided to retain him in Pakistan. MacLaurin explains:

"If Alec Stewart had not co-operated with us fully on Wednesday morning, when we had a very long conference call with him, my board and I would have suspended him," MacLaurin told BBC Radio.

"As soon as we contacted Alec he made his declarations to us quite clearly and therefore we had no reason at all to ask him to go home."

However, on 16th October, MacLaurin said when referring to the presence of Pakistan players in the Qayyum report: "If someone is under suspicion he should be removed from the game until his case is heard and his innocence is proved."

Today he suggested his words had been taken out of context, but reiterated his hard-line stance.

"If there is any suspicion against any of our England players and they fail to come and talk to me or any or my colleagues about it, they will be suspended."

MacLaurin expressed regret at his earlier comments, admitting that they did nothing to help English-Pakistan relations at a time of bridge building.

"I am very sad about that because I know the Pakistan administrators very well indeed," admitted MacLaurin.

"I was with them in Nairobi just a few weeks ago at an ICC meeting and they are very honourable people."

"I get on very well with them and it would be very sad indeed if remarks are misinterpreted by journalists, for one reason or another, trying to put a wedge between ourselves and Pakistan."

"I know the people in charge there very well and I'm sure we're all on the same wavelength. I would sincerely hope that for the good of cricket we all are."