ISLAMABAD: The Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Ministry in Islamabad have expressed its dissatisfaction with a recent letter penned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) directly to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, seeking the federal government’s clearance to participate in the upcoming World Cup.
This action, according to reports from local media, has bypassed established protocols, prompting the authorities to say that proper channels were not followed when the Board officials took up the matter.
The letter written by PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Salman Naseer to PM Shehbaz has been considered a breach of norms. The standard procedure, as outlined by the authorities, mandates that a subordinate department seeks permission or provides updates to the higher authority through the concerned ministry, where approval is required. Subsequently, the concerned ministry would then submit a summary for PM’s decision.
Regrettably, this established procedure appears to have been disregarded, as the PCB chose to directly address the Prime Minister in their letter, holds the ministry. The Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the PCB’s approach, employing strong language when raising the issue with the PCB authorities.
Sources said that Naseer was duly informed about the repercussions of this breach, which could potentially lead to significant complications. “We have taken up the matter with the PCB COO and conveyed our displeasure. Government regulations explicitly prohibit officials from engaging in direct communication with the prime minister. In this instance, the prescribed procedure was not followed. We have expressed our dissatisfaction and will explore further actions in response,” stated an official from the Ministry.
PCB’s letter
The prime objective of the letter, a copy of which was also shared with the Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Interior, was to get the government’s clearance to participate in the World Cup to be hosted by India.
In the letter sent on June 27, the PCB also sought the government’s advice on the venues. The ICC has earmarked five venues for Pakistan – Ahmedabad (vs India, October 15), Hyderabad (vs both the qualifiers, Oct 6 and 12), Bengaluru (vs Australia on October 20 and New Zealand on November 5), in Chennai (vs Afghanistan on October 23 and South Africa on October 27), and Kolkata (vs Bangladesh on November 5 and England on November 12).
If Pakistan reaches the semi-final, it will play in Kolkata. The final will be held in Ahmedabad on November 15.
“It is entirely up to the Government of Pakistan on the process it wants to formulate and follow before advising us on the next steps. If this requires sending an advance team to India to inspect the venues and hold meetings with the event organisers, then it will solely be the government’s decision,” a PCB spokesperson had remarked.
