PCB serves legal notice to ICC over World Cup shift

Karachi, May 9:Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has served a legal notice to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over their decision to shift the 2011 World Cup matches out of the country due to security reasons.
PCB chairman Ejaz Butt said a legal notice was sent to the ICC today in protest against the decision and said if security was the reason for moving the World Cup matches out of Pakistan, then it was no better in Sri Lanka and India.

"PCB believes the manner in which the decision was taken was legally flawed and revoking our host status on security grounds while not reviewing that of other co-hosts was unfair and discriminatory. We don't want to give useless statements on losing the World Cup matches. But sending the ICC a legal notice is our way of protesting against the decision," Butt told a news conference in Lahore.

"I don't think the security situation is any better in India or Sri Lanka. The Australian Tennis Federation has refused to send its team to India. There is a battle going on between security forces and the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka and there was a military revolt in Bangladesh," he added.

Butt said the board has also approached Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sports seeking justice.

"The ICC's decision was not correct in legal terms. We want impartial arbitration, in the interest of justice, equity and fair play. So we have also approached Court of Arbitration for Sports seeking justice," Butt said. PTI