Tuesday, November 20, 2018
By
Web Desk

ICC rejects PCB compensation claim from BCCI for refusing bilateral series

By
Web Desk
|

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council on Tuesday dismissed the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) claim for compensation from the Indian cricket board over its refusal to honour an agreement to play bilateral series.

"Following a three-day hearing and having considered detailed oral and written submissions, the Dispute Panel has dismissed the PCB's claim against the BCCI," the ICC said in a statement. "The judgement…is binding and non-appealable."

The PCB had demanded 70 million dollars in compensation from India, saying that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2014 had guaranteed six India-Pakistan bilateral series between 2015 and 2023, four of which would be hosted by Pakistan.

Following BCCI's refusal to play citing the Indian government's objections, PCB filed a notice of dispute with the cricket's governing body last November claiming damages from the Indian cricket board.

The full judgement of the ICC's Dispute Committee is as follows:

The MoU was a reward to Pakistan for backing the "Big Three" plan according to which India, Australia, and England had the major share of power and revenues of world cricket.

According to the agreement, the six tours would include up to 14 Tests, 30 one-days and 12 Twenty20 internationals.

However, that arrangement fell apart and the BCCI refused to accept the MoU as a legal document, dismissing it as a "piece of paper".

India-Pakistan ties, including sports and cultural contacts, plummeted after the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, which left more than 160 people dead.

There has been just one bilateral tour since, when Pakistan visited India to play two Twenty20s and three one-day internationals in December 2012 and January 2013.

PCB terms decision 'a disappointment'

PCB, in response to the ICC dispute panel's dismissal of its case against BCCI, termed the decision a "disappointment" and said it will determine the future course of action after detailed deliberations and consultations with its stakeholders. 

"In relation to the proceedings brought by PCB against BCCI, the PCB notes with regret the decision of the Disputes Panel of the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee," PCB said in a press release. 

"In 2017, PCB had claimed that BCCI had breached an agreement that it had signed with PCB on 9th April 2014 and had referred the matter to ICC’s Dispute Panel. Following a lengthy disputes resolution process, the announcement of the decision today has come as a disappointment for PCB.

"PCB will determine its future course of action in this regard after detailed deliberations and consultations with its stakeholders," the board added.