No mercy for ICL rebels, asserts PCB

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Nasim Ashraf has ruled out the possibility of giving a general amnesty to players who were banned for participating in the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

“Well it is something that can be discussed by our governing body members and they have the authority to take a decision on this. But I must emphasise that the players knew what they were doing and the consequences of playing in the ICL when they signed their contracts, he said when asked whether the players would be pardoned.

Ashraf said the decision to ban the players was not unilateral and was agreed upon in an ICC meeting.

“I don’t know why this impression is being given that only the PCB has taken this decision. The fact is this was a policy decision discussed by all member boards of the ICC and also agreed upon. So we have done nothing new or unilateral,” he explained.

Pakistani Test discards Imran Farhat, Shabbir Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood and former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq appeared in the ICL in its inaugural edition last month.

And on returning home they were told by their departments that the board has instructed them not to select them as they had appeared in an unauthorised foreign league.

Ashraf said the players were aware of the problems they could face when they signed up to play in a event which is not recognised by the ICC or any of its member boards.

“We have nothing personal against these players. They can go and play in the ICL and earn good money. But when they were available we tried to talk sense into them and they didn’t listen. The PCB as a governing body of the sport in Pakistan has to follow certain regulations,” he said.

Sania faces points pressure

With her India commitments – Fed Cup and Hopman Cup – on the rise, Sania Mirza has a battle on her hands as she attempts to guard her ranking (world No.31) in order to gain a seeding in the opening Grand Slam of the year.

The 21-year-old begins her campaign in the mixed-team competition in Perth on Saturday and will play Fed Cup in February. It’s unlikely that the Indian will get to play a run of WTA events of her choice until almost March.

The Hopman Cup, where the Hyderabadi will team up with Rohan Bopanna for their clashes against the United States (Meghann Shaughnessy and Mardy Fish) on December 29, versus Australia (Alicia Molik and Peter Luczak) on January 1 and versus the Czech Republic (Lucie Safarova and Tomas Berdych) on January 3, offers no points, only prize money.

After the Hopman Cup, Sania plays the Hobart International, starting January 7.

The Tier IV event, in which she has to defend 50 points – having made the semifinals last year – will be her only ranking tournament before the Australian Open, where the top 32 get seeded.

In the Melbourne event, Sania will play the doubles alongside Shaughnessy.

After the Australian Open, where she made 60 points last year after making the second round, she plays Fed Cup. India are among eight other teams in the Asia-Oceania Group I competition, starting January 28 in Bangkok. The following week, Sania will forgo the elite Tier II Gaz de France and instead play the Tier IV Pattaya event, where she made the semifinals last year, because it’s a mere 147-km drive from Bangkok.

Thereafter, it will be Doha (Tier I), Dubai (Tier II) and Bangalore (Tier II) before Sania hits the American swing of tournaments.

“Playing for your country is a privilege and playing for India in the Hopman Cup is an honour for Sania, When we made the commitment, we knew it would put pressure on her ranking in terms of points but it was important for Sania to represent her country,” her father Imran Mirza, who both coaches and manages his daughter’s schedule, said.