The Rediff Interview / Gen. Tauqir Zia
'The ICC will have to promise
me that they will either keep
a stand-by team or
compensate me'
With big money talking loud and clear, the Pakistan Cricket Board pulled all stops in a bid to get the Indian government to reconsider its decision to call off the proposed tour to Pakistan. It even cajoled BCCI officials to use their good offices to push the tour through, but in vain.
It was not for nothing that they did all this. Fact of the matter is that Pakistan seems to be the biggest loser by the tour being called off, given the fact that an Indo-Pak series is the hottest ticket going for television networks and corporate sponsors offer big money for a duel between the subcontinent foes.
General Tauqir Zia, the chairman of the PCB, after numerous attempts, has now given up on an Indo-Pak series. At the same time, he has refused to accept the International Cricket Council's ten-year cricket calendar. He insists on an assurance from the ICC, that there will not be a recurrence of the kind, and in case of any cancellation there will be a stand-by team of equal strength to play Pakistan else the ICC will have to compensate the PCB for the huge losses it stands to incur.
In a telephonic conversation with Faisal Shariff, Gen. Zia talks about the cancellation of the series, the effect it will have on South Asia, and problems afflicting the Pakistan team.
Have relations between the two sides strained due to the cancellation of India's proposed tour of Pakistan?
There are no strained relations between the two boards. Both the boards toe the same line. The problem lies elsewhere and I don't want to talk about the politics of it. The boards have always wanted to play each other and foster relations, which are at an all-time low.
What do you think will be the impact of the tour being called-off?
The impact is enormous. Firstly, two good quality sides cannot play each other and learn. Secondly, Asian teams will suffer a lot. The Asian countries had a good standing in the ICC because India and Pakistan fought together and spoke one language on all issues. Thirdly, the development of funds will be severely hampered if the Asian countries aren't together. Also, India and Pakistan stand to lose a lot of money. There is major money to be lost with this cancellation.
How do you expect India to play Pakistan with the prevailing conditions and hostility the two sides share?
I am not a politician to answer that question. I run the Pakistan Cricket Board and am only looking after cricketing matters in the country. There has been no indication from our government to call off cricketing ties between the two countries. We are ready to play India anywhere in the world. But India is doing things that are discouraging the whole process. Of course, the governments understand much better than you or I do. But if ties are called off we will never progress.
Anyway, I believe that sports events help normalise relations between countries.
How can you really justify that statement? How has cricket ever helped normalising relations between the two countries? The tension has never subsided. Is this just a cliché statement?
No, it is not a cliché statement, plainly because when Pakistan came to India in 1999, they were surprised with the reception they received from the Indian crowds. When India comes to Pakistan, the reaction of the Pakistan public to the Indian team will be understood. The reception they get will be telecast live. "Dil mein sympathy ho jati hai' [There is sympathy in the heart]. The public reaction will be positive. The people of the two countries will react positively and that will be a start. Please don't forget the cricket diplomacy that General Zia Ul-Haq started. It went a long way.
Have you spoken to the ICC regarding this matter? Have you approved the ten-year schedule?
No, I haven't approved of the ten-year schedule and will refuse to do so in future. India and Pakistan play each other four times in the schedule that has been drawn up. I am completely against this programme. The ICC will have to promise me in writing that they will either keep a stand-by team which is as strong as India or compensate me for the losses incurred due to the tour cancellation. I have lost so much money already due to this cancellation. I have lost more than $ 17 million.
So what do you think is the solution?
If we don't become one, cricket in South Asia will suffer. India not playing Pakistan will mean that the Asian Test Championship and the Asia Cup will have to be shelved. The South Asian public will be deprived of some great cricket. It is unfair on the people of the region for whom cricket is nothing less than a religion.
Did the PCB make any attempts to contact the Indian government on the issue?
Yes, we did, but all we met with was a dead end. At the Asian Council meeting, a three-member delegation, comprising Sabir Chowdhury of Bangladesh, Thilanga Sumathipala of Sri Lanka and Tunku Imran of Malaysia, was named to travel to India in the first week of last month. They were not allowed to travel to India. The Indian government refused them entry into India. What can we do?
What efforts did the BCCI pursue to get the tour through?
Our tremendous ties with the BCCI helped us a lot through this difficult period.
[Raj Singh] Dungarpur was in Pakistan in November for the International Cricket Council finance and development committee meeting at Lahore. He had taken time off to fly to Islamabad to meet the Indian High Commissioner and asked him to persuade New Delhi. I get along very well with Dr Muthiah as well. He was keen that the tour took place as well.
What, according to you, is the reason for Pakistan's dismal performance in the Test series against England? You had pulled up Moin Khan, asking him to explain the debacle...
I did not pull up Moin Khan. I just called him to discus the future of Pakistan cricket. He has been tremendous as captain of Pakistan. He is new, yet has won four major one-day tournaments last year. He won the Asia Cup, the tournaments in Sharjah, Sri Lanka and West Indies. The Test match we lost against England was the first in 38 years. It's just unfortunate, but it's one of those things in cricket you cannot avoid.
Why was Akram dropped form the game against England? Why is he being pressurised despite the wonderful track record he has?
I have not ever uttered a word against Akram. In a game, anyway, an individual does not matter. The team and its composition assume prime importance. It's a professional game, played by professionals who earn money from the game. Despite that Akram is too great a player to be lost. Not for anything have I conferred on him the Lifetime Achievement award.
Why is he refusing to pay the penalty recommended by the Qayyum Commission?
I can easily cut his money from the pay packet he gets from us. He has to go to court to solve the matter. I asked him to go to court and appeal to let the matter go to a higher court. Till then nothing can be done about it.
Is it true that a spy was travelling with the team to keep a tab on them?
(Laughs) That is a bunch of lies. If you don't like someone in the visiting squad, you spread a rumour, saying that he is a spy and the news spreads like wild fire. Why blame anyone else? I am the spy; I can do whatever I like with the permission of my patron, the premier of Pakistan.
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