Akram comments ill-informed and offensive - ICC

ICC President, Ehsan Mani, today strongly attacked comments made by former Pakistan player Wasim Akram that alleged a bias by the ICC against Asian countries, labelling them as ill-informed and offensive.

"As a Pakistani I am honoured by the privilege given to me to lead the ICC in carrying out its responsibility to act without fear or favour to any nation. It is a great disappointment to see this former great player, particularly as he is from my own homeland, make such ill-informed, offensive and inaccurate comments," said Mr Mani

"The reality is that what Wasim has alleged is offensive not just to me but to everybody involved with the ICC - the directors, the umpires and referees, the staff and the many former great players from across the cricketing world, including many from Asia, who are involved with the ICC through its Cricket Committee," he said.

"His comments are not supported by any facts, are ill-informed and make no constructive contribution to the debate on moving cricket forward.

"With former Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar, as Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee that includes four representatives from Asia; with former South African vice-captain, David Richardson, as General Manager - Cricket; and with former Sir Lankan captain, Ranjan Madugalle, and Sri Lankan player, Roshan Mahanama, amongst the Emirates Elite Panel of Referees we have access to some outstanding cricketing people to deal with cricket issues. In this process, the views of the Asian region are well represented.

"In reality the ICC today is a multi-cultural body that reflects and embraces the diversity of the cricket world. This is reflected at the Board table, at all levels of the administration and in the critical operational areas of the Cricket Committee, umpiring and refereeing and anti-corruption.

"In light of the reality of the modern ICC, these comments are a poor reflection on Wasim's ability to play a constructive role in debating cricketing issues and bring into question his ability to research, understand and make judgments on the way in which the ICC carries out its mandate from all members."