The Hindu : I want U.S. in 2007 World Cup: Mani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 05, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

I want U.S. in 2007 World Cup: Mani

London July 4. The International Cricket Council's (ICC) president-elect Ehsan Mani of Pakistan has said he would like to see the United States participate in the 2007 World Cup.

The London-based chartered accountant, who will take over from present ICC chief Malcolm Gray next June, in an interview to the BBC Sport Online on Wednesday said, ``I would dearly love the US to play in the World Cup in 2007.''

Stating that he was keen to promote cricket around the world, Mani said: ``you can't truly have an international game based on 10 teams, you have to be expansionist and open up new markets.''

Mani, who was formally installed as Vice President at last week's ICC Annual Conference here, also promised to secure the future of any national board undermined by tour cancellations, a problem that has plagued Pakistan the most in the last couple of seasons.

New Zealand was forced to cancel its tour to Pakistan because of the September 11 attacks. When it finally made it, the Kiwis again were shaken by the bomb attack outside their Karachi hotel that killed 14, and decided yet again to cancel the remainder of the tour.

Pakistan was also forced to play the three Test series with the West Indies in Sharjah and there are considerable doubts about the venue for the series against Australia.

``The ICC will not let any of the member countries boards go bankrupt. There is an ongoing plan in place to resolve this issue with the ICC becoming the lender of last resort,'' the BBC Sport Online quoted him as saying.

Mani, who has represented Pakistan at the ICC since 1989, admitted that a series against India would be a big prize for Pakistan. ``The ICC would continue to work towards restoring cricketing ties between the two countries,'' he added.

Ehsan Mani has served on a number of ICC Committees, including the Chairman's Advisory committee, set up to advise Lord Cowdrey and Sir Clyde Walcott during their tenures.

In 1996, he became a director when he took the chair of the ICC Finance and Marketing Committee, a position he held until last week when the Committee was dissolved.

He has also worked on the Rules Review Committee and the Governance and Organisation Committee. His paper on the sharing of World Cup revenues between the host and the member countries had a major impact on the financial arrangements of the ICC and its members.

He was also a member of the Organising Committee for the 1996 ICC World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan and has served on the Asian Cricket Council as well.

After his appointment, Mani said in a statement, ``I was honoured on behalf of Pakistan cricket to be nominated for this prestigious position and delighted to be formally installed as Malcolm Gray's successor at last week's annual conference.''

``I already enjoy a close working relationship with Malcolm, fellow directors and Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed and look forward to the next 12 months and the build-up to my own term in office,'' he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport