Pakistan one-dayers to go ahead: Sonn by AFP

---

Event:

Pakistan in British Isles 2006

---

DateLine: 26th August 2006

 

International Cricket Council (ICC) president Percy Sonn insisted Friday that the one-day series between England and Pakistan would go ahead as scheduled.

 

There have been fears that Pakistan might boycott the one-day leg of the tour if captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was banned on charges of ball-tampering and bringing the game into disrepute after the tourists were deemed to have forfeited the fourth and final Test against England at The Oval on Sunday.

 

Pakistan's refusal to take the field after tea on the fourth day saw umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove declare the first forfeit in 129 years of Test cricket history.

 

Inzamam's hearing, scheduled to take place Friday, has been postponed because the ICC's senior match referee Ranjan Madugalle was unable to preside because of a family reasons.

 

"The PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) have always said they were going to continue with the series if they could have," Sonn told a London news conference.

 

"Ever since last Sunday this matter has been marked by unfortunate and entirely avoidable over-reactions. Everyone must try to switch attentions to the on-field action once more.

 

"I have had a meeting with PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) chairman David Morgan and I have been assured the tour continues as scheduled."

 

He added: "I have no reason not to take him (Shaharyar) at his word."

 

Sonn confirmed the ICC's executive board would meet in Dubai on Saturday, September 2 to discuss the crisis.

 

His comments came after ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed revealed that Hair had asked for a payment of 500,000 dollars in return for standing down from the ICC's elite umpiring panel, although the offer was later revoked.

 

Pakistan are due to play a Twenty20 match against England in Bristol on Monday before the five-match one-day series starts in Cardiff on Wednesday.

 

The ECB have made contingency plans for an International XI to play Monday in the event of a Pakistan no-show and have had discussions with other nations about stepping in should Pakistan abandon the one-dayers.

 

It is estimated that a cancelled one-day series would cost the ECB 10 million pounds.

 

Speed added he thought Inzamam's case would no be heard in the second half of September.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)