Ehsan Mani, president of the International Cricket Council. - PHOTO BY ADRIAN FRATER
LONDON (Reuters):
CLAIMS BY former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram that the sport's world governing body has become a "forum for white cricketers" are ill-informed and offensive, International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani said yesterday.
Wasim's fellow Pakistani said he was disappointed by the comments which were reported in Manorama Online, the website of the Indian daily newspaper.
Wasim attacked Mani, telling the website: "ICC has become a forum for white cricketers. Mani may be a Pakistani, but he has never played cricket and never been associated with Pakistan or India or Bangladesh.
"He has never watched a first-class game. My objection is why don't players like Imran Khan and Kapil Dev get the top job in ICC?
"But people from Australia and England - all these one-Test wonders - get the job... I think if cricketers head the ICC, their opinion will be respected more. We (the subcontinent) have the passion, money and the crowds. But nobody from India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka ever gets the top job in ICC."
Mani hit back, saying: "As a Pakistani I am honoured by the privilege given to me to lead the ICC in carrying out its responsibility to act without fear or favour to any nation. It is a great disappointment to see this former great player, particularly as he is from my own homeland, make such ill-informed, offensive and inaccurate comments.
MULTI-CULTURAL BODY
"The reality is that what Wasim has alleged is offensive not just to me but to everybody involved with the ICC - the directors, the umpires and referees, the staff and the many former great players from across the cricketing world, including many from Asia, who are involved with the ICC through its Cricket Committee.
"His comments are not supported by any facts, are ill-informed and make no constructive contribution to the debate on moving cricket forward."
