Team management to be blamed for Oval Test fiasco: Butt

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ejaz Butt said that the then team management in 2006 had not handled the Oval Test fiasco properly which led to the match being forfeited in favour of England at the first place.

Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ejaz Butt on Thursday said the then team management in 2006 had not handled the Oval Test fiasco properly which led to the match being forfeited in favour of England at the first place.

HT Image

International Cricket Council (ICC) earlier this month re-awarded the controversial Test to England after it had declared the match a draw last year.

Umpires Darrel Hair and Billy Doctrove declared the Test forfeited after Pakistan refused to take field after tea on the fourth day of the match, protesting against five-run penalty on charges of ball tampering.

It was only after much persuasion by the then PCB chief Shaharyar Khan that Pakistan players came out, but by that time the umpires had already made up their mind.

Butt felt the team management had acted in haste while deciding not to come out to play and they should have lodged a formal protest to Match Referee.

"We were in a winning position and could have won if we had not acted hastily no matter what the circumstances were at that time. We should have followed the rules," said Butt.