PCB files case in Lahore against WC secretariat m

PCB files case in Lahore against WC secretariat move

Cricinfo staff

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The World Cup Secretariat was moved from Lahore to Mumbai after Pakistan was stripped of its rights to co-host the 2011 World Cup © AFP Enlarge

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The PCB has filed a case in a Lahore court against the ICC's decision to move the headquarters of the 2011 World Cup from Lahore to Mumbai. This effectively heightens the row over the decision to remove Pakistan as a co-host for the 2011 World Cup.

"The (ICC) board has no authority to move the secretariat and that's why we have filed the case," the PCB's legal adviser Tafazzul Rizvi told AP. "We have to fight all out against a decision which is legally flawed and to step up our pressure, we have sued the ICC, IDI (ICC Development International) and the Central Organising Committee (for) World Cup 2011.

"The IDI gave the World Cup to four countries... so the ICC Executive Board was not entitled to take a decision on a World Cup move, only the annual general meeting can take such a decision."

Rizvi added that until an ICC dispute committee or the the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) resolve the case, the World Cup Secretariat could not be moved out of Pakistan. "Pakistan can also claim a relief on the relocation of the secretariat," he said.

A civil judge, Mohammad Younis Anis, sent notices to the ICC, IDI - the ICC's commercial arm - and the tournament's central organising committee to respond to the PCB's suit by May 18. "The judge has recorded our preliminary statement, now let's see how the three parties respond to the notices."

The PCB served a legal notice to the ICC after cricket's governing body had stripped Pakistan of its rights to co-host the 2011 World Cup, following the terrorist attack in Lahore when gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus. On Tuesday, the PCB sent a letter to Michael Beloff, president of the ICC Disputes Resolution Committee, to refer the matter to the CAS.