PCB to seek ICC assurance on govt. permission to play in World Cup

Mumbai, July 27 (ANI): Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt will meet ICC president David Morgan on Tuesday to discuss the possible solutions to a scenario in which the Pakistan cricket team is not allowed to play its 2011 World Cup home matches in India or if the Pakistan Government does not allow its team to play in India.

According to sources, the visa issue for Pakistani fans wishing to travel to India to see the World Cup matches is also likely to come up for discussion.

Butt may also press for a review of security assessment in all nations, which are hosting the 2011 World Cup matches, said PCB lawyer Taffazul Rizvi.

Speaking from Lahore on Sunday, he said, "As per the host agreement signed by all nations hosting World Cup matches, the PCB chairman will brief again (to David Morgan) all points before deciding the fate of the hosting rights."

PCB's London-based lawyer Mark Gay in his first letter to the ICC also highlighted the necessity of re-assessment of security in all nations, The Nation reports.

The general perception in Pakistan is that the last edition of the IPL matches were shifted to South Africa for security reasons and not due to elections in India.

Busy with the PCB's legal issues (Shoaib Akhtar and Gadaffi Stadium property tax), which are to come up for hearing on this week, lawyer Taffazul Rizvi is unlikely to accompany the PCB chairman on the Dubai trip. (ANI)