The Hindu : Contract's dispute is top priority for Mani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 20, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Contract's dispute is top priority for Mani

Kolkata June 19. When Pakistan's Ehsan Mani assumes office as President of ICC on Thursday, ending the players' term imbroglio would be at the top of his agenda among other things.

Some 14 years ago when Mr. Mani attended the first International Cricket Council (ICC)'s meeting, the matter of ``neutral umpiring'' was at the top of the agenda.

Today, he will be the second Asian after Mr. Jagmohan Dalmiya to assume the highest office of cricket administration in London.

According to reports here, when Mr. Mani assumes office, foremost on his list will be the imbroglio related to the players' terms that first surfaced on the eve of last September's Champions Trophy and created a series of obstacles before the World Cup, 2003.

Second on his list is to ensure that the member boards have ``full confidence'' in any action initiated by the ICC.

At the moment the ICC has 84 members, including ten Test playing nations.

Finally, he would take the development process forward in a two-fold process. New areas, obviously, plus a look at the nations where cricket is under threat from other sports.

A financial expert by profession, Mr. Mani has a place on the board of two UK registered banks — United National Bank Ltd. and Bank Insinger de Beaufort.

``It's an honour and a recognition of Pakistan's contribution to the world of cricket.

Today, the ICC is run like a modern business and every stakeholder has to do his bit to carry it forward,'' he said.

Talking about the Players' contract, he said, ``All parties must work towards a solution which will be in the best interest of the game.

The term's controversy has to end quickly,'' Mr. Mani reportedly said.

Incidentally, he was one of the prime negotiators in the lead up to the Global Cricket Corporation (GCC) as head of the ICC's finance and marketing committee, which has since been disbanded.

Mr. Mani is also aiming to have nothing short of full confidence in whatever is decided by the board.

``There has been some communication gap. One reason could be that interaction at the ICC level is limited to the presidents and the chief executives.

"Therefore, I intend meeting ordinary board members across the world. Such an exercise should abridge whatever gap there is,'' Mr. Mani said while talking about how to dispel any doubts that may exist among the member nations.

Regarding the development matter Mr. Mani said, ``Besides taking the game to new region, we must look at the threat posed by sports like basketball in West Indies ad soccer in England.''

Asked if he would take a greater role in reviving cricket between India and Pakistan he said, ``Look, beyond a point the ICC can't do anything.

"The ICC, after all cannot be in a position where there's a conflict with government policy.''

UNI

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