Players' fears on Pakistan not justified - Lorgat
Haroon Lorgat took over from Malcolm Speed as the ICC chief executive officer a month ago and is already facing a possible boycott of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan from some countries
07-Aug-2008
Haroon Lorgat took over from Malcolm Speed as the ICC chief executive officer a month ago and is already in the midst of a crisis: a possible boycott of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan by players of some countries. He talks to Cricinfo's Nagraj Gollapudi about the status of the tournament, safety in Pakistan, the proposed Champions Twenty20 League and more.
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It's been just a month since you took over as the ICC CEO, but already you are in the midst of a contentious issue: the reluctance of players from some countries to participate in the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan this September. How difficult has it been for you personally to understand, appreciate and balance the various, and often opposing, viewpoints on this issue?
It has been quite challenging. In a sense, it's been exciting without a dull moment in the past month. I got into the job and I basically hit the road running. I haven't had much of a chance to even look at settling myself down in Dubai, arranging accommodation and so on, but I expect that goes with the territory. I knew before I got in there were some big issues to deal with. And the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, we all knew, was going to be a challenging one with all the perceptions floating around. But I'm very pleased to say that what's coming out of the security reviews and the safety measures that have been put into place is that if we convey the facts properly to the players, officials and others, I'm sure we can raise their confidence as we ourselves are very confident with these measures. In fact, we hope to leave behind a legacy with the various initiatives we have put into place.
It has been quite challenging. In a sense, it's been exciting without a dull moment in the past month. I got into the job and I basically hit the road running. I haven't had much of a chance to even look at settling myself down in Dubai, arranging accommodation and so on, but I expect that goes with the territory. I knew before I got in there were some big issues to deal with. And the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, we all knew, was going to be a challenging one with all the perceptions floating around. But I'm very pleased to say that what's coming out of the security reviews and the safety measures that have been put into place is that if we convey the facts properly to the players, officials and others, I'm sure we can raise their confidence as we ourselves are very confident with these measures. In fact, we hope to leave behind a legacy with the various initiatives we have put into place.
What is the status of the ICC Champions Trophy?
Right now, the ICC board had reconfirmed Pakistan as the host country. This was the telecon decision taken two weeks back. We hope to release the final match schedule in the course of this week. I'm in constant contact with the security consultants, Tim May from FICA and others. We are particularly pleased that Tim is going to join the task team, be open-minded and explore for himself. For any of us, it is difficult to sit on the outside and make a judgement based on what you read.
Right now, the ICC board had reconfirmed Pakistan as the host country. This was the telecon decision taken two weeks back. We hope to release the final match schedule in the course of this week. I'm in constant contact with the security consultants, Tim May from FICA and others. We are particularly pleased that Tim is going to join the task team, be open-minded and explore for himself. For any of us, it is difficult to sit on the outside and make a judgement based on what you read.
When is the ICC task team expected to visit Pakistan?
At this stage, representatives of the task team are set to visit between August 11 and 12, about a month before the event. We need to understand the brief of the task team is to exist right through to the end of the tournament. So the task team will ensure that all the measures recommended in various reports are in place and will continue to also monitor intelligence reports right to the end.
At this stage, representatives of the task team are set to visit between August 11 and 12, about a month before the event. We need to understand the brief of the task team is to exist right through to the end of the tournament. So the task team will ensure that all the measures recommended in various reports are in place and will continue to also monitor intelligence reports right to the end.
Will the event go ahead as scheduled in all the three venues - Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi?
One of the points we are mindful of that came out of previous visits by the security consultants was that there were no Asia Cup games held in Rawalpindi. As a result they were not able to assess or monitor any of the security requirements. Bearing that in mind we are now exploring whether it would enhance security and whether it would remove perceptions being created around security for the whole tournament because Rawalpindi was not part of the Asia Cup. We are now exploring whether we should have the championship in two venues - Karachi and Lahore - and we might make a decision to go in that direction. Our objective is to remove the discomfort or perceptions that any of the member countries or players may have. If that's a concern then let's just remove it and enhance the level of security in the remaining two venues and hopefully improve confidence levels for all.
One of the points we are mindful of that came out of previous visits by the security consultants was that there were no Asia Cup games held in Rawalpindi. As a result they were not able to assess or monitor any of the security requirements. Bearing that in mind we are now exploring whether it would enhance security and whether it would remove perceptions being created around security for the whole tournament because Rawalpindi was not part of the Asia Cup. We are now exploring whether we should have the championship in two venues - Karachi and Lahore - and we might make a decision to go in that direction. Our objective is to remove the discomfort or perceptions that any of the member countries or players may have. If that's a concern then let's just remove it and enhance the level of security in the remaining two venues and hopefully improve confidence levels for all.
Are you on the task team?
I'm on the task force but even if I can't go we have senior management people within the ICC that will replace me. But I certainly am very keen to go. I was there during the Asia Cup and had first-hand experience of the ground realities. It wasn't just me but quite a few members of the ICC Board including Shashank Manohar from India, Creagh O' Connnor from Australia and Giles Clarke from England. They were among the various board members present. It was very comfortable. I certainly didn't feel threatened or scared so to speak because the security measures were good and the people were fantastic.
I'm on the task force but even if I can't go we have senior management people within the ICC that will replace me. But I certainly am very keen to go. I was there during the Asia Cup and had first-hand experience of the ground realities. It wasn't just me but quite a few members of the ICC Board including Shashank Manohar from India, Creagh O' Connnor from Australia and Giles Clarke from England. They were among the various board members present. It was very comfortable. I certainly didn't feel threatened or scared so to speak because the security measures were good and the people were fantastic.
Now that you've already been there recently, are the players' fears about the security situation in Pakistan fully justified?
Personally, I don't think so. I really do believe if they were to come to Pakistan they would see it differently. We are only human and any of us who sit far away and read either press reports or e-mails will have great difficulty in making a fair judgement or a fair assessment. I can remember back in the days when I was in South Africa: you sit there and you get a call from some distraught friend or family person abroad asking "are you ok? Are you safe"? And you haven't even heard about a blast miles away from where you are. But the perception on the outside is pretty negative. So from my previous visit to Pakistan, I am comfortable the player fears are understandable but not justified.
Personally, I don't think so. I really do believe if they were to come to Pakistan they would see it differently. We are only human and any of us who sit far away and read either press reports or e-mails will have great difficulty in making a fair judgement or a fair assessment. I can remember back in the days when I was in South Africa: you sit there and you get a call from some distraught friend or family person abroad asking "are you ok? Are you safe"? And you haven't even heard about a blast miles away from where you are. But the perception on the outside is pretty negative. So from my previous visit to Pakistan, I am comfortable the player fears are understandable but not justified.
Moving on to the Champions Twenty20 League, what are the main concerns of the ICC?
. The big focus is still Champions Trophy, to try and raise the comfort levels of the players so we do get the best players to come to the Champions Trophy and each of the participating nations field their best team. That is an important and prestigious event. In terms of Champions League, it is a challenge when there are two events alongside each other but we need to focus on Champions Trophy and make it the best that we can.
. The big focus is still Champions Trophy, to try and raise the comfort levels of the players so we do get the best players to come to the Champions Trophy and each of the participating nations field their best team. That is an important and prestigious event. In terms of Champions League, it is a challenge when there are two events alongside each other but we need to focus on Champions Trophy and make it the best that we can.
The BCCI, CA and CSA say that the Champions League is a tournament involving domestic sides. But does the ICC appreciate that viewpoint, considering that some of the teams for the Twenty20 tournament, especially the IPL franchises, have overseas players, most of whom will be part of the Champions Trophy, too?
These three member countries that you refer to are of the opinion that it is a domestic tournament. The issue is more about the potential dilutory effect of two very good events alongside each other: one event could dilute the other and that applies both ways. It would make more sense if you were to separate these events and give people some time to digest one and then entertain themselves with the other. That's what we would like to explore amongst us.
These three member countries that you refer to are of the opinion that it is a domestic tournament. The issue is more about the potential dilutory effect of two very good events alongside each other: one event could dilute the other and that applies both ways. It would make more sense if you were to separate these events and give people some time to digest one and then entertain themselves with the other. That's what we would like to explore amongst us.
Is there a possibility the Champions League might be deferred?
There is a possibility and that's what we are hoping we can try and work out. And remember, it is all about the calendar permitting. We are not talking about special windows. It's something the three members would look at as they are organising the event. So we have requested them to think about how they could make sure that we don't hold it so close to each other, purely from a cricket spectator's point of view. All parties must work together. After all, we have the same objectives and we need to sit down and work out how we can achieve this.
There is a possibility and that's what we are hoping we can try and work out. And remember, it is all about the calendar permitting. We are not talking about special windows. It's something the three members would look at as they are organising the event. So we have requested them to think about how they could make sure that we don't hold it so close to each other, purely from a cricket spectator's point of view. All parties must work together. After all, we have the same objectives and we need to sit down and work out how we can achieve this.
Stepping back to view the big picture, won't the profusion of these Twenty20 leagues impact bilateral Test series in the long run?
It's a generally consistent opinion of most administrators that we need to be careful how much of a dosage of this Twenty20 competitions we have because ultimately we might have too many of them. In fact, I read Mahela Jayawardene's views on this subject and he is right. He is asking us as administrators to manage the amount of Twenty20 tournaments we put together. Everybody has recognised that it is such an attraction at the moment and we are beginning to say let's just be careful how much of a dosage we send out. Because it would impact on the FTP: there are only 12 months in the year or 52 weeks in the year. And in some countries at some stages of a year you just can't play cricket. So you don't even have 52 weeks. We have to be responsible in the way that we manage and allocate the number of Twenty20 games in relation to the amount of FTP and we've got to find the right balance. That is probably easier said than done.
It's a generally consistent opinion of most administrators that we need to be careful how much of a dosage of this Twenty20 competitions we have because ultimately we might have too many of them. In fact, I read Mahela Jayawardene's views on this subject and he is right. He is asking us as administrators to manage the amount of Twenty20 tournaments we put together. Everybody has recognised that it is such an attraction at the moment and we are beginning to say let's just be careful how much of a dosage we send out. Because it would impact on the FTP: there are only 12 months in the year or 52 weeks in the year. And in some countries at some stages of a year you just can't play cricket. So you don't even have 52 weeks. We have to be responsible in the way that we manage and allocate the number of Twenty20 games in relation to the amount of FTP and we've got to find the right balance. That is probably easier said than done.
In fact, Jayawardene suggested that there should be one big Twenty20 event with the various boards sharing the profits. Do you agree?
We've already got that in the form of the ICC World Twenty20. That is the major international event. We've got to get responsible amongst all of us that beyond that we start managing how many more mega events we have. We now have the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, ICC World Twenty20, IPL, Stanford, there's a Champions League proposal and so on. We need to think carefully how much more T20 cricket we have. That's a question every responsible administrator must seek to answer.
We've already got that in the form of the ICC World Twenty20. That is the major international event. We've got to get responsible amongst all of us that beyond that we start managing how many more mega events we have. We now have the ICC Cricket World Cup, ICC Champions Trophy, ICC World Twenty20, IPL, Stanford, there's a Champions League proposal and so on. We need to think carefully how much more T20 cricket we have. That's a question every responsible administrator must seek to answer.
But the ICC seems to have no regulatory control over such leagues, except to ratify their existence. Won't this diminish the relevance of the governing body?
It's an area that is currently being looked at. There is a sub-committee that's revisiting the regulations that currently exist. I guess it's understandable that this is the case as the changing landscape has happened very quickly and we now need to re-look the regulations that were developed some years back. The Twenty20 concept really blossomed after the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa last year with other high-profile events following. The ICC has recognised that and put together this group to have a re-look at our regulations.
It's an area that is currently being looked at. There is a sub-committee that's revisiting the regulations that currently exist. I guess it's understandable that this is the case as the changing landscape has happened very quickly and we now need to re-look the regulations that were developed some years back. The Twenty20 concept really blossomed after the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa last year with other high-profile events following. The ICC has recognised that and put together this group to have a re-look at our regulations.
| It's a generally consistent opinion of most administrators that we need to be careful how much of a dosage of this Twenty20 competitions we have because ultimately we might have too many of them. Because it would impact on the FTP: there are only 12 months in the year or 52 weeks in the year. And in some countries at some stages of a year you just can't play cricket. So you don't even have 52 weeks | |||
The other issue that dominated the ICC's agenda when you took over was that of Zimbabwe. At the end of the annual conference, the ICC had asked Zimbabwe Cricket to get back within a month on whether they uphold their representative's decision to pull out of the ICC World Twenty20 in England. Has ZC got back on this? If not, by when do you expect them to get back? When will the ICC task force on Zimbabwe begin work?
The first part was for Zimbabwe was to revert back to the ICC and that's in the process of being done. Since we've got involved with so many other issues in the last few days we've not actually clarified outstanding matters and confirmed this. Once that is done, the work of the task force will start in terms of supporting Zimbabwe. Firstly, the task force needs to find out what the exact situation in Zimbabwe cricket is, what exists there and then recommend how best to help Zimbabwe to reach the level that you'll expect them to be, which is at the Test-playing level.
The first part was for Zimbabwe was to revert back to the ICC and that's in the process of being done. Since we've got involved with so many other issues in the last few days we've not actually clarified outstanding matters and confirmed this. Once that is done, the work of the task force will start in terms of supporting Zimbabwe. Firstly, the task force needs to find out what the exact situation in Zimbabwe cricket is, what exists there and then recommend how best to help Zimbabwe to reach the level that you'll expect them to be, which is at the Test-playing level.
Finally, has IS Bindra joined the ICC in the new post of principal advisor? If so, will he continue to keep his IPL and BCCI positions? If not, when do you expect him to come on board and what is the status of his appointment?
It is a difficult question for me to answer because I'm not involved in his appointment. He is a special advisor to the president [David Morgan] who confirms the appointment. Only the president has knowledge in terms of his appointment and the role. It is something which hasn't been buttoned down by the president yet. However, Mr Bindra is already involved in a lot of what we do. For example, when we discussed Pakistan as the host venue, Mr Bindra was part of the conference call. In a sense, he is already working with the ICC. I am looking forward to his involvement as he has a lot of experience and wisdom to share with us.
It is a difficult question for me to answer because I'm not involved in his appointment. He is a special advisor to the president [David Morgan] who confirms the appointment. Only the president has knowledge in terms of his appointment and the role. It is something which hasn't been buttoned down by the president yet. However, Mr Bindra is already involved in a lot of what we do. For example, when we discussed Pakistan as the host venue, Mr Bindra was part of the conference call. In a sense, he is already working with the ICC. I am looking forward to his involvement as he has a lot of experience and wisdom to share with us.
Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at Cricinfo