Mani hails PCB's legal move against ICC

Former ICC President Ehsan Mani has supported the Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to file a legal suit against the game's highest governing body for shifting 2011 World Cup matches out of Pakistan on security grounds.

Mani who was at the helm of the ICC from 2003 to 2006, however, feels the PCB should also keep the option of going to the table open.

"I am sure this move by the PCB will put pressure on the ICC board members. But at the same time I would also advise the PCB to keep back door channels open for talks with the ICC," Mani said.

He made it clear that the ICC's decision was a harsh one as only Pakistan was being singled out to not host the World Cup matches on security grounds.

"The PCB officials feel slighted because according to them the shifting of the World Cup matches was not even on the agenda of the ICC meeting when this decision was taken," Mani said.

"I don't think they were expecting the ICC to take such a major decision and were caught unaware. But they should have been prepared to contest this move through intense lobbying as well," he added.

Mani who is said to have advised the PCB to legally challenge the ICC decision, also thinks that the ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat has failed to cite satisfactory reasons for moving the quadrennial event out of the country.

"I spoke to Lorgat and I don't agree with his argument that Pakistan should have been prepared in advance to face such a situation after the attack on the Sri Lankan team," he added.

The ICC last month decided to withdraw 2011 World Cup hosting rights from the strife-torn country after a terror attack on Sri Lanka cricket team in Lohore left six players injured.

Mani said that Pakistan should do everything to get back hosting rights of the World Cup matches and then, if necessary even agree to host them at neutral venues like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

"Pakistan must ensure it does not lose hosting rights because financially also it means losing out on some $11 million which is the hosting fees for the matches," he added.