Newly-appointed ICC president Sharad Pawar on Thursday said that immediate resumption of cricket ties between India and Pakistan is not possible.

“Immediate ties between both countries is not possible. It is not in the hands of the cricket boards. It is a diplomatic issue. This is a decision taken by the Indian government,” Pawar said.

Asked about demands for the introduction of day-night Tests to save the longer format of the game, Pawar said the “issue has not reached his ear”.

“We are only administrators. If needed, I will let the experts take a call (on the issue),” he said.

To a query whether the ICC was mulling to shift its headquarters back to England, Pawar said, “In England, there are 40 per cent taxes while there are no taxes in Dubai. The moment England thinks similarly about cricket we will consider it.”

Pawar said he was confident about BCCI president Shashank Manohar’s integrity to handle the controversial Lalit Modi issue.

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ejaz Butt has said that he had a constructive talk with the Emirates Cricket Board officials and the proposed ODI series against New Zealand would be held this year.

Butt, who is in London, told Geo Super that he would officially announce the venues for the series of four One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches on Monday after returning home.

“The venues, 90 per cent, would be Abu Dhabi and Dubai once again,” Butt said.

New Zealand had refused to tour Pakistan for the scheduled series in October this year because of the volatile security situation in Pakistan.

However, they agreed on the suggestion to play the ODI matches at neutral venues and host the three Tests in New Zealand in November-December.

Pakistan had already played a One-day series with Australia in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in April-May this year.

Butt visit to Emirates came after differences erupted over the hosting fees being demanded by the Abu Dhabi and Dubai cricket bodies.

After meeting with the Emirates board officials, Butt travelled to London where he held two rounds of talks with Giles Clarke who heads the Wales and English cricket Board and also leads the special task force of the International Cricket Council formed to explore possibilities for resumption of international cricket in Pakistan.

“I have had some constructive talks with Giles Clarke as well regarding our tour to England next year and also on matters pertaining to revival of international cricket in Pakistan,” Butt said.

“We discussed three to four points but since these matter is confidential, I can’t give out the details as yet,” he added.

Sources close to Butt said that during the meeting, the possibility of convincing India to resume bilateral ties with Pakistan with a One-day series in England next year was also explored.

Pakistan would prefer to play their 2011 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka if their team is not allowed to play in India due to strained relations between the sub-continental neighbours.

According to sources, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ejaz Butt had indicated it to the ICC President David Morgan in their recent meeting in Dubai.

India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the three joint hosts of the World Cup as ICC and PCB have resolved their dispute over hosting of matches in Pakistan.

Relations between India and Pakistan hit a low after the terror attacks in Mumbai last November which led to suspension of bilateral cricket ties.

“The PCB believes the test case for the World Cup will come when the IPL-III will be held in March-April next year,” one source said.

“If the Pakistan government allows its cricketers to play in the IPL then we should not have any problems sending our team to India for the World Cup matches,” the source said.

The central organizing committee of the World Cup which no longer includes any Pakistani representative is due to finalize the schedule of matches and venues for the World Cup in November after which the PCB will know where its team has to play in the tournament.

The International Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday amicably resolved the dispute over staging of the 2011 World Cup matches in the strife-torn country, clearing the way for the smooth hosting of the elite event in the sub-continent.

As per the agreement, to be signed soon, the PCB will retain its host fees and also receive an additional payment as reasonable compensation for loss of hosting rights that it would have enjoyed had it hosted the matches on Pakistan soil.

The PCB, on its part, has agreed to withdraw its legal proceedings against the ICC.

The resolution was reached during a meeting between ICC President David Morgan and PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt.

According to the agreement between the PCB and commercial arm of the world governing body “the PCB would be free of its liabilities and obligations associated with hosting matches during the tournament, including the location of the tournament secretariat which had originally been set for Lahore.”

“This resolution is good for world cricket and provides an improved platform for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 as we now have a degree of certainty surrounding the event that was not there while the dispute was ongoing,” Morgan said in a statement.

“I am glad we were able to come to an amicable agreement and I believe this is a fair resolution for the PCB and the ICC,” Morgan said.

The ICC Board in April had stripped the host status of Pakistan, taking away the 14 matches it was originally allocated because of security situation in that country.

Morgan also promised Pakistan to bring cricket back in that country as and when security improves.

“When the position in Pakistan, from a safety and security point of view, becomes satisfactory to the ICC and its specialist security advisors as well as to visiting teams, then international cricket will return to Pakistan,” he said.

PCB chief Butt also expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the talks.

“The PCB is content with the settlement that has been reached. We are able to see this dispute from the other side. We realise also the logistical and administrative difficulties that would be associated with organising our matches in the other three co-host countries.

“Our number-one priority is that cricket in Pakistan must not be allowed to suffer unduly and I believe this agreement is the best possible outcome for the game,” he said.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as the first choice venue for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host the One-Day International series against New Zealand scheduled to be held in November-December.

Sources said the PCB is likely to host the series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Though the terms and conditions offered by Abu Dhabi sports authorities are acceptable for the PCB, the Dubai Sports City has still not agreed with PCB on all its terms, the Dawn reports.

PCB chief Ijaz Butt is expected to meet Dubai Sports City officials later this week to sort out the issue.

The United States and Malaysia have emerged as the second and third options respectively for the PCB to host the series, but sources said PCB would face numerous problems if it decides shift the series to US.

It would be difficult for the PCB to obtain US visas for players and its officials if the matches are held in US.

When Abdul Razzaq broke his ties with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) and was recalled to the Pakistan national team this summer, the seasoned all-rounder thought he was back in the fold.

And it seemed that Razzaq had cemented his place in the squad after his significant contribution in Pakistan’s World Twenty20 championship win in England in June.

The 29-year-old player is now left in the cold after a spate of unimpressive outings during the disastrous tour of Sri Lanka.

Razzaq was ignored for the Champions Trophy with the national selectors voting in favour of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, another former ICL player, for a place in the 15-man touring party for South Africa.

“I’m obviously disappointed at being dropped for the Champions Trophy,” said Razzaq. “I had regained my fitness and was looking forward to play in the tournament. But I’m hopeful of making a comeback soon.”

Razzaq, who has an impressive One-day record with 4,529 runs and 250 wickets from 234 outings, will find it really tough to regain a place in the national team.

His batting has been not been impressive since his return to international cricket and in the presence of pacers like Mohammad Asif and Rana Naved, it would be difficult for Razzaq to get the selectors’ nod only on the basis of his medium-pace bowling.

However, the Lahore-based player is not intimidated.

“I’ve never avoided hard work and am willing to put in the hours in order to get back my place in the Pakistan team,” said Razzaq, who has played 46 Tests for 100 wickets and 1,946 runs.

Razzaq said he has no regrets on quitting the cash-rich ICL, in which he was among the star cricketers.

“It (ICL) is a thing of past. All I’m interested now is to focus on my career with the Pakistan team,” he said.

Razzaq was banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board along with several other compatriots after they switched allegiance to the ICL – an unofficial Twenty20 league run by one of the biggest media groups in India.

Earlier this year, he severed ties with the ICL after which the PCB pardoned and recalled him in the Pakistan team during the World Twenty20 as a replacement for injured all-rounder Yasir Arafat.

Pakistan Cricket Board is yet to take a call on the venue for ODI series against New Zealand later this year as holding matches in the Dubai Sports City has proved to be an expensive proposition for already cash strapped PCB.

Despite indications that the PCB was interested in hosting New Zealand for a One-day series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, now it seems they are having second thoughts after the experience of their home series against Australia in the venue earlier this year.

“While hosting matches in Abu Dhabi has not proved that expensive but organising matches in the Dubai Sports City was an expensive experience for the board,” one official said.

He said the DSC had racked up a bill of nearly $2.5 million for hosting two ODIs and a Twenty20 match against Australia in April-May.

“The PCB is now undecided about where to host the One-day series and have even asked New Zealand to suggest neutral venues or host the series at home,” the official stated.

The official said as New Zealand was not inclined to play five ODIs and a T20 match at Abu Dhabi, the three Tests might be held in the Kiwi’s own backyard as agreed by both the boards.

“New Zealand Cricket have told the PCB that the cost for hosting three Tests would be around $450,000,” the official said.

New Zealand was due to visit Pakistan in October-November on a scheduled tour but have refused to send their team to the strife torn country citing security reasons.

But New Zealand have agreed to play the series at neutral venues or even host the Tests at home.

The poor security situation in Pakistan has forced the national team to play all its Tests and bilateral ODI series abroad. England will host Pakistan-Australia Test series next year while they have also invited Pakistan for a Test series that is not part of the Future Tours Programme.

“Pakistan’s Test series next year in England is not part of the FTP and negotiations are being held between the two boards over the sharing of revenues. The PCB has apparently agreed to a fee of $3.5 million to play the series from the England and Wales Cricket Board,” one source said.

The ECB is expected to rake in between $15-20 million for hosting the series against Pakistan.

Pakistan’s legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram is wondering why the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not utilising his services to groom young bowlers.

Akram, who has helped Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan, feels that he got only limited opportunities to work with Pakistani bowlers.

“I don’t know why the PCB is not utilising me. I am ready to help them. Sohail Tanveer, Umar Gul and Mohammed Aamir came to me and I helped them out. I have been telling the PCB that I don’t need a job. What more can I offer,” asks the 43-year-old former Pakistan captain.

Asked about the future of dope-tainted fast bowler Mohammed Asif, who has been included in the probables for the Champions Trophy, Akram said: “Asif has to learn from his mistakes. I also learnt from my mistakes during my playing days. He is a talented bowler and probably one of the best in Pakistan. But he will face tough competition from young bowlers like Aamir.”

Akram also felt that controversial fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar’s international career is almost over.

“I think Shoiab has fallen out with the selectors and the PCB. But still the board gave him enough opportunities and played him in a couple of ODIs against Australia in Abu Dhabi. I think its over for Shoaib,” he said.

Akram was unhappy with the Indian cricket board’s reluctance to include a series against Pakistan in its 2012-2020 Future Tour Programme (FTP).

“It is sad that we won’t see a series between the two countries during the eight-year period. The Test series between India and Pakistan is always fun and tough,” he said.

The freeze in cricketing relations between India and Pakistan is not only hampering the drafting of a new Future Tours Programme (FTP), it has also put all calculations on hold for the BCCI’s new TV rights deal for home games, which is up for renewal in March 2010.

Since the ICC is finding it difficult to chalk out the new FTP – the definitive schedule of all international matches from 2012 to 2018 – the BCCI, in turn, finds itself unable to contemplate long-term deals with broadcasters for its home matches.

In June, when the ICC board members met in London, it was agreed that a quick drafting of the FTP would take priority. But the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) insistence on including Indo-Pak matches in the FTP has put all parties in a bind, since the BCCI doesn’t know when the government will defreeze cricketing relations with the neighbours.

Sources suggested nothing would be decided till the ICC board members meet again in October during the Champions Trophy to take a fresh look at the FTP proposals submitted by different boards.

“Lack of clarity over bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan is the main cause for the delay. We are losing valuable time. We need to know something from the ICC to prepare a tender based on matches to be played between 2012 and 2018. The ICC will have to announce something which is flexible enough to base financial calculations on,” a top BCCI official said.

“We can’t take a call on when and how India can again play Pakistan. We have to strictly adhere to the government’s rule book,” the official added.

The ICC, though, sounded upbeat about the prospects of a new FTP. “We are going to announce the FTP soon. In the next board meeting in South Africa on Oct 8 and 9, the ICC hopes that members will reach an agreement,” an ICC official said from Dubai. But with almost all members wary of playing in Pakistan, is an FTP which includes Indo-Pak match-ups feasible?

Currently, BCCI has a four-year deal with Nimbus (from March 1, 2006 to March 31, 2010 for 23 Test matches and around 60 One-dayers), worth $638 million. Industry sources say that if India and Pakistan can resume bilateral cricket soon, the BCCI can generate around $1 billion in telecast rights for home matches, and also when global rights are renewed in 2010.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ejaj Butt said he is ready to resign if President Asif Zardari is not happy with his performance, as media reports claim.

Before leaving for Dubai, Butt told a newspaper that he was doing his best to fulfill his duties as Chairman of the board and if Zardari was still not happy, he would not mind quitting.

“I am trying to bring about improvement in Pakistan cricket with honesty and dedication but if the President is not satisfied with my performance I will hand in my resignation and go home,” Butt said.

“I have no concerns on this issue. I was given a responsibility and I am doing my best to discharge my duties,” he added.

Butt left for Dubai to meet International Cricket Council chief David Morgan and also attend an ICC meeting next week.

The meeting with Morgan is expected to end Pakistan’s resistance to the ICC moving its share of the 2011 World Cup matches to the other joint host countries — India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Pakistan had threatened to legally challenge the ICC decision to move the matches but insiders in the board have disclosed that the meeting with Morgan had been specifically scheduled to reach a compromise over the issue.

Butt, however denied that Pakistan had taken a decision not to pursue its legal action against the ICC.

Media reports have said that the English law firm hired by the PCB for the case had advised them to drop the idea of filing a legal case although Butt denied this.

He also denied that Pakistan had dropped the idea of pursuing its case with the disputes resolution tribunal of the ICC.

“We will decide on our future course of action after my meeting with Morgan. All this talk about we deciding to drop our legal challenge is premature,” Butt said.

Butt, a former Test player, has been under fire recently for his administrative abilities and the resignation of former captain Aamer Sohail last week as Director of the National Cricket Academy has given credence to rumors that Butt does not get along with anyone in the board.

Media reports said President Zardari, who is chief patron of the board, is not happy with the performance of the board and he would soon review a full report on Butt’s tenure.