Butt asked to seek more time from ICC

The PCB has asked its chairman Ejaz Butt to convince the ICC to review the security situation early next year before deciding whether the country is safe enough to host the 2011 World Cup.

The governing council of the Pakistan Cricket Board has asked PCB chairman Ejaz Butt to convince the ICC to review the security situation early next year before deciding whether the country is safe enough to host the 2011 World Cup matches.

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A governing council member told PTI that the members have told Butt that when he signs the out-of-court settlement agreement with the ICC over the World Cup dispute, he should convince them to include a special waiver clause.

"The council members have advised Butt to include a waiver clause under which the ICC will again review the security situation in Pakistan early next year and if the security situation improves dramatically, Pakistan should be given the right to host some of its World Cup matches at home," the member said.

He said that the members wanted Butt to convince the ICC to extend the deadline for finalising venues for the World Cup from August 30 to early next year.

"The security situation in Pakistan is showing improvement and we want this special clause where the ICC can send its own delegation of security experts to review the situation early next year. If they feel the situation has improved, Pakistan must get a chance to host at least some matches of the World Cup," the member said.