Angry PCB asks ICC to take action against Speed

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

Angry PCB asks ICC to take action against Speed

Staff Report

KARACHI: Angry over Malcom Speed’s derogatory remark against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its chairman Ijaz Butt on the John Howard issue, the PCB has sent a strong worded letter to new International Cricket Council (ICC) president Sharad Pawar, asking him to take action against the former chief executive of the game’s governing body. Speed lashed out at the Pakistan and Bangladesh cricket boards earlier in the week after the two countries joint hands with India, Sri Lanka and South Africa to reject former Australian prime minister Howard’s nomination for the post of ICC vice-president. Speed described the PCB chairman as a “buffoon” and said Pakistan and Bangladesh were politicised cricket bodies.

The PCB sources said on Saturday that Speed’s remark did not go well with Ijaz, who ordered chief operating officer Wasim Bari to shot off a letter to Pawar, asking him to initiate action against the former ICC CEO. “His outburst against the chairman of an ICC full-member country speaks volumes of his hatred against ICC member countries not towing his line. It also shows his bias against the Asian and coloured countries. The PCB would request for action against the former ICC chief executive for using derogatory remarks against Ijaz,” the letter read.

In the letter, sent to Pawar on Friday last, the PCB said the game of cricket would earn bad repute if a free-hand was given to former ICC officials to issue such derogatory remarks. “It is a test case for Sharad Pawar as he has just taken over and the fact remains that Speed is no longer an ICC official and free to air his views on any issue,” another PCB source said. Sources said the PCB legal team had also been directed to look into the possibility of suing Speed for defaming Ijaz and the board.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[H2O3C4Nitrogen]

well the racist ausies did it again..

 

[Areesh]

Yaar keep that racism issue aside and you will also agree with speed. He is a buffoon. Also I don't think he is wrong by calling PCB politicize cricket body.

 

[ice_man]

look there is clear racism and sidelining of pakistan in CRICKET!

look at the 2005 test where pakistan was first given the verdict as the winners only to be reversed and declared as losers for standing up to the jerk of an umpire!!

Pakistan was side lined and taken away the south asian right to host the worldcup!

Pakistan should just withdraw itself from cricket! there is no point playing without respect! ICC is totally controlled by INDIA & AUSTRALIA! (india cuz of money)

time to develop our NATIONAL GAME HOCKEY! or squash or even football in pakistan! time to have some self respect!

 

[ambidex]

We will support Pakistan on this.
Two PMs join fight against Pawar-Cricket-Sports-TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos

 

[Guynextdoor]

Can't understand the Aussies. Every one from the PCB to the South Africans to even the BCCI don't want John Howard. Their attitude seems to be 'we don't care if the world hates him, we'll impose him if we have to'. They look at it as some sort of a challenge...how can these Asians etc. decide the future of cricket? We can do what we want etc.

 

[Awesome]

What is Pakistan's motivation to join hands with India and others on this matter?

What is the issue with John Howard?

 

[Guynextdoor]

Howard warns on India's cricket power

Howard warns on India's cricket power - CRICKETNDTV.com

So he's now out to attack India after losing out on his bid. It's not his absurdly racist image that's to blame, it's 'centralization' of cricketing power in India.

 

[Markus]

The Aussies are shell shocked and aghast bcoz they no longer have control on the running of the game.

 

[Hyde]

I say PCB chairman is bufoon and i also agree that PCB is politicised

But at the same time, it was indeed a very derogatery, disrespectful and offensive remark by the ex-CEO. He should never have said that considering his post that he worked on and pcb is right to take an action against this guy.

For other peoples, i guess they reserve their right to leave remarks on anybody and i would not have bothered if any player or any non-cricketing personality would have come up with such remarks

 

[SpArK]

Im glad that Asians have united with SL board to keep away that racist Howard and Co.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Howard is a racist pri...k one good thing PCB has done in last 10 years is this 1 move applause

 

[RescueRanger]

Seems like this rude unsportsmanlike like behaviour is endemic in the Australians:

Aussie speedster Shaun Tait lets loose on Butt after the batsman stopped Tait in his delivery stride. -Photo by AP

If you saw the match, the poor Pakistani batsman was just turning as this idiot was trying to run up... Very unprofessional.

But... Pride has a price:

 

[Areesh]

Calling a buffoon a buffoon


According to newspaper reports, not publicly denied so far, Mr Malcolm Speed, former chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), has called Mr Ijaz Butt, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, a ‘buffoon.’ This is the biggest ever insult hurled at a Pakistani sports organiser since Pakistan got Test status. Mr Ijaz has easily been the most criticised head of any sports organisation within Pakistan but he has now begun to carry this reputation in international sporting community as well.

In an initial reaction the PCB had planned to file a complaint with the ICC but then had second thoughts because they then realised that Mr Speed is no longer an ICC employee and there is nothing much that the ICC could do about this. But to me personally, it is a reflection on Pakistan as a country where individuals who are considered with such disdain can be appointed heads of leading sports organisations. Indirectly, it is a reflection on the personality of President of Pakistan who is the appointing authority of the PCB chief. Mr Ijaz is there not on merit but due to his relationship with Defense Minister Mr Ahmed Mukhtar, who should himself now suggest to the President to remove him before Ijaz causes more damage to Pakistan cricket or the country that he represents. I have had the good fortune of working directly or indirectly with Mr Speed for nearly seven years and can vouch about his integrity, decency and competence. He has proven himself to be not only an extremely competent administrator but one who produced results and thanks to him the ICC now has an international programme which is the envy of all cricket playing countries.

It was during his tenure and that of Mr Ehsan Mani as president that the ICC moved out of Lord’s to Dubai thus breaking the shackles of English dominated international cricket set up. Mr Speed lost his job in the ICC because he stood up to India and refused to accept their dictation. In one of my earlier articles, I had written what the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials had to say after Mr Ijaz’s visit to their head office in Malaysia. It really made me laugh though they did not use the adjective that has now been used for Mr Ijaz. No wonder he achieved absolutely nothing during Pakistan’s two-year tenure as ACC president and Pakistan is the least represented country on the ACC secretariat.

As if calling Mr Ijaz a ‘buffoon’ was not enough, Mr Mani has now alleged that Mr Ijaz backed out of supporting John Howard’s candidature for the ICC after having made a categorical commitment to do so most probably on the instigation of India. Thus Mr Ijaz is guilty of another serious misdemeanor and nobody is going to trust his commitments in future. Why follow India blindly knowing well that it was at India’s instance that Pakistan was deprived of hosting World Cup matches despite being joint hosts with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Are security conditions better in those countries than Pakistan? We have now been offered a lollypop of playing against India in a neutral country which Mr Ijaz and company are terming as a ‘great news’ which will bring a financial bonanza for Pakistan. Is a few hundred thousand dollars more important than national honour but then such things are beyond the great Mr Ijaz who after a lapse of more than two years has not even been able to send a formal report to the ICC about the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team during their tour of Pakistan. That one incident has dealt a deadly blow to Pakistan sports from which it will be difficult to recover for a long time. Long live buffoon...sorry Mr Ijaz. Let President Asif Ali Zardari not worry about the immense harm that he is causing to all sports institutions let alone cricket.

(Zakir Hussain Syed is Pakistan’s internationally renowned sports administrator, sports broadcaster and sports analyst)

Calling a buffoon a buffoon

 

[proud007]

Seems like this rude unsportsmanlike like behaviour is endemic in the Australians:

Aussie speedster Shaun Tait lets loose on Butt after the batsman stopped Tait in his delivery stride. -Photo by AP

If you saw the match, the poor Pakistani batsman was just turning as this idiot was trying to run up... Very unprofessional.

But... Pride has a price:

Dear Pakistanis,

Thanks for giving us Indians company in being victim of racism. Heh! Heh!