Joint World Cup bid is tribute to our predecessors' sagacity: Pawa

Lahore, May 28 (UNI) BCCI President Sharad Pawar has credited the far-sighted approach of the earlier BCCI regime -- led by Jagmohan Dalmiya -- for the smooth coordination of the joint World cup bid with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

In a letter to the PCB President Shaharyar Khan, thanking him for backing the 2011 Asian World Cup bid, Mr Pawar said,''It is a great tribute to the sagacity of our predecessors in our Boards that we are seen on the same side and proceeding on the same wavelength on crucial cricketing matters.'' The new BCCI setup has been at loggerheads with Dalmiya since taking over last year, accusing him of financial irregularities during his tenure.

Meanwhile, Mr Pawar congratulated his Pakistani counterpart for the successful bid, which gave the 2011 World Cup hosting rights to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

''Congratulations for an excellent joint bid produced by our four subcontinetal boards that compelled the International Cricket Council Board of Directors to vote us to organise the 2011 World Cup,'' the BCCI president said in the letter on the PCB website.

He also thanked Mr Khan for preparing a comprehensive compliance document which turned the ICC decision in favour of Asia after almost it almost missed the bus following a late submission of the bid.

''If the Asian Subcontinent has been able to win the bid, it is largely because of your timely reminder to us about the compliance document. Thanks a lot for rescuing the bid which we would have, for all practical purposes, lost by default,'' Mr Pawar said.

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