Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohammad Zaka Ashraf has confirmed current chief Najam Sethi's claims that India had offered them a chance to join the 'Big Three' during a major reorganisation of the ICC's administration.
The PCB was initially one of three countries opposing the ICC revamp approved by members in February, which handed the majority of the powers and revenues to the 'Big Three': India, Australia and England.
However, The Dawn reports that although Ashraf confirmed Sethi's claims that Pakistan was offered a seat at the table, he however, said that the offer was never a firm commitment.
Ashraf further said that India later stepped back from the offer, saying that other members of the 'Big Three'- England and Australia- were not ready to admit Pakistan as a fourth member, adding that they could not have taken the verbal assurances as whatever India offered was on paper.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sacked Ashraf two days after the Big Three' reforms were approved, reappointing Sethi who himself was suspended by Islamabad high court in January over alleged irregularities in his appointment, the report added.
