Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, was in Karachi to launch World Twenty20 tournament. His visit was the first by an official of the ICC highest level since the terrorist attacks in Lahore last year that had international cricket outside the country for the foreseeable future. Lorgat spoke exclusively to Cricinfo about the situation in Pakistan and the ICC working group working with the PCB to ease the plight of the meeting.
After the bombings in Lahore last year, a feeling grew in Pakistan and the PCB have been isolated from world cricket, both geographically and in terms of the tournaments that took, and otherwise so that his players lost the IPL . How does the ICC to deal with something like this?
First, is a very sad feeling, because it lacks truth. In fact, quite the contrary. There are very sympathetic, very understanding, great appreciation that we must do something to ensure that Pakistan's support in this difficult period brought on by environmental factors and nothing to do with cricket. It is very unfortunate, but true. It is very difficult for me as the International Criminal Court to try to make a difference, other than that it's not true.
We have a team working together, we have done our best, we have supported through the decisions we have made Pakistan. In fact, the team has gone so far as to try to help in hosting international meetings. One thing is very clear in my mind and think about my own education in South Africa, where isolation was real and it is absolutely the reverse here.
Only on the question of IPL, Pakistan lost players. The International Criminal Court says it is a domestic issue, but it is not simply the diversion? Is it not a grave concern that the best Twenty20 players in the world not playing in the league's most lucrative cricket world. If the ICC does not care about that and can actually do something about it?
From a regulatory perspective, no, but certainly when we talk with our friends in all sectors trying to suggest and influence them to be as transparent and open-minded about all this, as possible. But in fact the owners to decide who their teams should or should not be and can not do anything else.
Did I disappoint you?
There is an emotional response and all of us complained that some of the best players - Venezuela, after all had just won the World Twenty20 - was lost. So there's an emotional disappointment. But if you think about it intellectually, some of the reasons behind it, you have to understand, some owners may not want to go through the trouble and then you can appreciate the reasoning behind it. Intellectually you can begin to understand why he would not take the risk.
Relations between Pakistan and the ICC deteriorated last year after hosting World Cup theme and there was the threat of legal battle. How are things now?
If there is a legal battle that followed the relations are somewhat different of course, you're a little quieter, a little more careful. But we are all professionals, we know how to handle these things, we worked through it, we did very well and here we are. We have ordered the matter. We have always said that Pakistan may misunderstood the reasoning behind it, and it was an attempt to strip them of co-hosts, it was just the location. But I think that all fell into place and began to make sense. I would say that today people have overcome the problem of taking the places outside Pakistan. We have established that in August last year, much has happened since then and people have gone ahead.
What work has the ICC working group accomplished so far in terms of helping Pakistan?
The working group was created before the attacks in Lahore and after the Champions Trophy 2008-making. Pakistan accepted the invitation in January 2009 in Perth to work with the working group. Some of the positive aspects can now see the benefits. In this working group is no support to do something. England, in particular, has seen the opportunity to host Pakistan tests there. It is a huge benefit to Pakistan. I have always said, I am very clear on one thing, Pakistan to play international cricket. If you can not play at home, it is unfortunate but should not stop playing international cricket. At best, we play at neutral venues until things get a little differently in the home environment, and we can return to this possibility of playing at home.
There was talk of a World XI game series being played against them in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, but has not gone too far?
It will be very difficult. These are all the suggestions work. You know how crowded calendar. In fact even Pakistan - which is a good thing, an excellent thing - are so crowded. Nothing I suspect that will happen this year, in terms of that suggestion, but it is one of the options.
How important is India to be as the financial giant, for Pakistan and India to improve relations and be able to play regularly? Is the ICC to do something about it?
You explained the economics of how important it is. From the perspective of the ICC, it is important that our members have a harmonious relationship. They are all members, and we want to make sure each is working on good relations with the other.
The World Cup is less than a year away now. Could it be problems in terms of playing Pakistan in India: the final, for example, has been selected for Mumbai and Pakistan side has not played there for many years.
I do not care now because at the central organizing committee have been very clear in our minds that Pakistan should reach any of the places we play in the venues. That includes Mumbai so if you reach the end, it would be very welcome to play at the Wankhede Stadium.
What do you see as the road map to return to Pakistan cricket? 2011 was the first of the ICC, said initially, but realistically, when you see what is going to return?
There is absolutely no timeline, and it would be irresponsible to suggest creating timelines and expectations. We have to take one day a week, a month, a year at a time. It's something that should only be controlled. This year, Pakistan is ranked in terms of international meetings. When it comes around next year, we have an open mind. In reading the reports and obtain reports, we have safety nets in place and keep track and monitor your progress.
ICC has looked at his own role as security is concerned, perhaps at least through the standardization of security consultants for all the world series?
Yes we have. We have created a working group on security was actually launched after the attacks of Lahore led by Lord Condon. The task force had presented seven recommendations which the Board has agreed. One is a normalization of the required standards of safety and security. Another recommendation that the PCB has set up for each full member to appoint a security manager full-time at the ICC. This network security administrators will be responsible for protocol standard measures. Now these measures are being written, so hopefully in June we could have something in place.
Friday, August 13, 2010
