PCB Chairman lashes out at ICC over Sarfraz ban

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ehsan Mani has expressed anger and sorrow over ICC's decision to ban Pakistan captain Safraz Ahmed for  matches for using racist comments. “bureaucratic process overruled common sense,” he said while talking to ESPNcricinfo, adding that the ICC should not  charged Sarfraz once apologies had been publicly made and accepted.Also read:  Sarfraz Ahmed apologizes for offensive comments caught on stump mic "So as far as we were concerned, an apology had been tendered and accepted and the only question was whether Sarfraz deserved any punishment". "I had already said we should pull Sarfraz out for 2-3 games. I felt very strongly that this has to be a strong message for everyone."But the ICC, Mani said, offered Phehlukwayo a reconciliation process, as allowed under the anti-racism code as a means to resolve such disputes and which would have involved an ICC mediator. Phehlukwayo refused the offer, wanting instead to move on."We had cleared the air," Mani said. "So common sense should have meant that was the end of the matter."We made an apology at all levels and it had been accepted by everyone. We have a good relationship with CSA. For the ICC to jump in because Phehlukwayo was upset and didn't want a reconciliation process, [and to feel they] have to charge Sarfraz, that's where I think a bit of nonsense comes into this. What else can you achieve by sitting them in a room? They're not school children."

from The News International - Sports http://bit.ly/2UvW9vl