ACB turns down PCB's request to issue a public apology

Earlier this year, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sat with their Afghan counterparts to discuss the cricketing relationship between the two countries. In an attempt to make their relationship better, the two boards decided on a couple of friendly T20 matches to be played in July and August. But an unfortunate incident which occurred three days after the meeting snapped all kinds of cricketing ties between the two nations.

On the 31st of May, a bomb blast shattered Afghanistan capital Kabul. 80 people were killed as the result of the blast and around 500 were left wounded. The Afghan fans already then started requesting ACB to cut off cricketing ties with Pakistan. Fans’ plea got escalated after the blast and as a result, the ACB decided to boycott the friendly T20 series.

They didn’t stop here and went on to the extent of calling Pakistan a country where terrorists are provided with a safe haven. “No agreement of friendly matches and mutual relationship agreement is valid with a country where terrorists are housed and provided safe haven,” said an ACB official after the blast.

This kind of controversial remark was for obvious reasons not to the liking of PCB chairman Shahryar Khan and his men. Fuming with rage, Khan asked for a public apology from ACB Chairman Atif Mashal. “We, the board, have taken a position that until they apologise in public, we should not be reviving any cricketing ties with them,” said the 83-year old departing chairman to the media.

ACB declines!

PCB might have been waiting for a public apology, but what they have got in return was not expected by Khan & Co. The ACB called for a meeting on Sunday. After the meeting, it was decided that there is no reason whatsoever for issuing an apology to PCB. “Our relations with other cricket boards, including PCB, are based on mutual respect and national interests and we do not see the need for an apology,” said an ACB official after the meeting.