‘Sons-of-pigs’ remark by ex-chairman leaves PCB red-faced

NEW DELHI: A distasteful comment by its former chairman Ijaz Butt has left the Pakistan Cricket Board red-faced. According to media reports, Butt, apparently angry with the International Cricket Council revamp plans, spearheaded by the cricket Boards of India, England and Australia, called the Big Three as “sons of pigs.” PCB is the only association that is yet to accept the new ICC plans on governance and revenue share.
According to an agency report, an embarrassed PCB has quickly distanced itself from Butt’s remark, which was made after a meeting with current PCB chairman Najam Sethi at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday. Butt was the chairman of PCB from 2008 to 2011, a tumultuous time for Pakistan cricket. It was during his time that gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. Ever since that attack on March 3, 2009, Pakistan have not hosted major international cricket events and won’t do so till at least 2023.
Seventy-five-year-old Butt made the “sons of pigs” comment on television. Asked to comment on the Big Three’s imminent stranglehold on world cricket, Butt reportedly said: “Listen don’t quote me but in my personal opinion all three are sons of pigs”. A PCB official reacted saying: “It’s his opinion not the board’s. We have no more comment to make”.
Pakistan remain the only nation opposing the ICC revamp plans that will see major structural changes in way world cricket will be run and revenue shared. Sethi, who has been appointed only last week, is speaking to former PCB officials to arrive at a decision. Butt said: “Every board is looking after its own interests and that is what we also must do.” Sri Lanka have been the latest Board to agree to the revamp plans. The Lankans were among the four Boards that had opposed the ICC changes, spearheaded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

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