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ICC Demands PCB Explain 'Force Majeure' Claim for India T20 WC Boycott

The International Cricket Council has formally asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to explain its invocation of the 'Force Majeure' clause to boycott its T20 World Cup match against India. The PCB cited government orders as the reason, which under ICC agreements can qualify as such an event. The ICC is examining the legal and commercial ramifications, including potential sanctions for breach of obligations. Both sides are engaged in dialogue to resolve the standoff, with the PCB referencing a past dispute with the BCCI as a potential precedent.

Key Points: ICC Seeks PCB Explanation for India Match Boycott Clause

  • PCB cited govt orders for boycott
  • Force Majeure covers unforeseen events
  • ICC reviews legal & financial implications
  • Back-channel talks ongoing
  • Precedent from old PCB-BCCI dispute cited
3 min read

ICC seeks explanation from PCB for invocation of 'Force Majeure' for boycott of T20 WC India clash

ICC asks PCB to justify 'Force Majeure' invocation for skipping T20 World Cup match vs India. Details on government orders & legal dispute.

"ICC is understood to have asked PCB to demonstrate what it had done to mitigate the 'Force Majeure' event - ESPNCricinfo"

New Delhi, February 7

The Pakistan Cricket Board has been asked by the International Cricket Council to explain the invocation of the 'Force Majeure' clause in the boycott of their ICC T20 World Cup group stage clash against arch-rivals India on February 15, as per ESPNCricinfo's report from Saturday.

According to ESPNCricinfo, the ICC received an email from the PCB citing government orders as the reason for its controversial boycott, which came less than 10 days before the start of the tournament. The match was scheduled to take place in Colombo as per the hybrid model. Both sides continue to engage in dialogue, with the ICC aiming to reach a resolution.

A legal concept, Force Majeure excuses a party from performing their obligations in the face of an unforeseeable event beyond their control, most commonly during a natural disaster or war, but under the participation agreement for ICC events, a government order is also categorised as such.

It was the official X handle of Pakistan which announced that Men in Green would not take to the field on the Feb 15 clash, and later on it was Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who linked this boycott to the controversy with Bangladesh as a symbol of solidarity.

Bangladesh was removed from the tournament and replaced by Scotland, as their wish to have all their matches played outside India could not be agreed upon by the ICC, which they put in place because of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Mustafizur Rahman being removed from the squad after instructions from the BCCI amid the atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh.

ICC is understood to have asked PCB to demonstrate what it had done to mitigate the 'Force Majeure' event, as it is needed by the Members Participation Agreement (MPA). Also, ICC is believed to have conditions in detail under which 'Force Majeure' can be invoked legimately and the evidentiary threshold needed for non-participation in the tournament, sporting, commercial and governance implications of such a step.

ICC informed PCB of the potential material damage the former could incur if the match does not go ahead. The global governing body does not want any confrontation, but under their constitution, they are allowed to go ahead with suspension/termination of a membership if there is a massive breach of obligations supposed to be fulfilled.

PCB also believes that if the matter becomes contentious, they have a strong case because there is a reference to an old PCB-BCCI dispute that reached the ICC Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) regarding a bilateral series.

It was about BCC allegedly failing to honour a 2014 MoU between the two boards to play six bilateral series between 2013 and 2015. PCB lost their claim for damages but believes the Indian government's refusal to grant BCCI permission to proceed with the series sets a precedent for them, according to ESPNCricinfo.

Both sides are currently engaged in back-channel talks, with ICC directors Imran Khwaja and Mubashir Usmani in ongoing dialogue with the PCB to resolve the deadlock. The ICC and the PCB have yet to issue an official statement on this matter.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Very disappointing. As an Indian cricket fan, I love the India-Pakistan rivalry on the field. It's the biggest match of any tournament. This constant pulling out at the last minute is unfair to the tournament organizers, sponsors, and most of all, the fans across the world. 😔
A
Aman W
The ICC's rules seem clear. If a government order is a valid reason, then fine, but PCB must show what steps they took to avoid this. Did they try to talk to their government? Or was this a planned move from the start? The timing, just 10 days before, hurts the event's credibility.
S
Sarah B
Reading the article, it seems PCB is trying to use an old BCCI dispute as a precedent. That's a weak argument. That was about bilateral series, which governments have always influenced. This is a global ICC event. Different context altogether. Hope the back-channel talks work.
V
Vikram M
Frankly, if a team doesn't want to play, let them forfeit. Award the points to India and move on. The World Cup is bigger than one match, even if it's the most anticipated one. This drama takes away from the sport. Other teams are there to play cricket, not politics.
K
Karthik V
While I understand the emotional weight of an India-Pak match, maybe it's time ICC considers the long-term health of the game. Constant threats of boycotts create instability. There should be clear, heavy penalties in the MPA for last-minute withdrawals that aren't due to genuine emergencies like natural disasters.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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