Pakistan Task Team revived: Zaheer Abbas' nomination warmly applauded: Broadcasting issue to be negotiated with an intent to resolve it: PCB Chairman nominated in the Governance Committee on top of ExCo and Audit Committee: PCB documentary on the Zimbabwe series much appreciated
The ICC Annual Conference 2015 in Barbados concluded with the following salient features for Pakistan.
- Zaheer Abbas was unanimously approved as President of ICC for the coming year by ICC’s full members. His nomination was received with warm and spontaneous applause by the ICC members attending the Annual Conference. Later at the reception given by the Barbados government that was attended by several famous West Indian Test players, Zaheer Abbas was again warmly applauded by the large gathering.
- A PCB produced documentary on the recent Pakistan-Zimbabwe series was shown at the ICC Board meeting and was much appreciated by members. The Pakistan Task Team was revived at the conference with its Chairman Giles Clarke undertaking to take early steps to help bring Pakistan cricket back into the international arena. The Chairman PCB will be discussing proposals with Giles Clarke to open up visiting teams visits to Pakistan during his stay in England. These would include full members, Associate members, sub-national teams e.g. ‘A’ team, U-19 and Women’s teams and the possibility of a Commonwealth or international team’s visit to Pakistan.
- The critical issue of Essel/Ten Sports that has broadcasting contracts with 5 member countries was discussed at the ICC Board meeting. Negotiations are in hand between ICC, Ten Sports/Essel and BCCI with a view to resolving this issue.
- The ICC has decided to accept its cricket committee recommendations to improve the balance between batsman and bowler in limited overs cricket. In future the batting power play will be dispensed with, all no-balls will lead to a free hit and mandatory close-fielders in the first power play will also be dispensed with.
- On the sidelines of the conference, the Chairman PCB was able to have exceptionally productive parleys with Full and Associate member representatives with a view to arranging bilateral series at all levels in the near future. These include Afghanistan, Ireland, Kenya, India, England and Australia.
- PCB Chairman Shaharyar M. Khan was nominated to the important Governance Committee for the coming year. This membership would be in addition to his current inclusion in the Executive and Audit Committees of the ICC.
