PTI

Karachi, May 15: The PCB continued to breathe fire against the ICC for shifting the 2011 World Cup matches and ridiculed the cricket's governing body for saying that taking away the games did not amount to stripping Pakistan of the quadrennial event's co-hosting rights.

"At least now they have made it clear that we are still one of the hosts of the World Cup and that they have only moved matches from Pakistan and not deprived us of host status," a PCB official said.

The ICC has rejected PCB's claim that their decision to move 2011 World Cup matches from Pakistan was legally flawed, saying they had not removed the country as a co-host of the quadrennial event.

But the PCB is not convinced. "If the ICC was admitting only the matches were shifted and Pakistan had not been removed as host, then how did it allow the World Cup organising committee to meet in Mumbai shortly after the board meet in Dubai," said a PCB official on condition of anonymity.

"If we are still the hosts then why were we not invited to the World Cup organising committee meeting? (ICC CEO Haroon) Lorgat attended that meeting and how did he allow the other host countries to decide so quickly to relocate the matches?" he asked.

"If we are still hosts then why didn't the ICC wait for us to submit alternate venues before redistributing the matches among the other three host nations? We have talked about having our matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi," the official said.

Sources said the ICC has indicated to the PCB that if it had any alternate venues in mind to host the World Cup matches it should submit those formally for discussion at the next ICC board meeting.

Pakistan has talked about hosting its share of the World Cup matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as they are keen to ensure it does not lose their share of around $11 million as hosting fees from the ICC.

Sources claimed it was obvious that the legal action had put the ICC under pressure.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif also questioned the manner in which the decision was taken by the ICC last month.

"Was it appropriate the summarily manner in which they removed us as hosts and then within a week also moved the World Cup secretariat from Lahore to Mumbai?" Latif said.