ICC president-elect's vow on tour cancellations

The International Cricket Council will secure the future of any national board undermined by tour cancellations, president-elect Ehsan Mani said on Wednesday.

"The ICC will not let any of the member countries boards go bankrupt. There is an ongoing plan in place to resolve this issue with the ICC becoming a lender of last resort," said Mani in an interview with BBC Sport Online.

Mani's native Pakistan have suffered more than most through recent tour cancellations.

New Zealand were on the way to Pakistan when the September 11 attacks in the United States forced them to return home. Then, in April, the Kiwis cancelled the remainder of their tour after a bomb blast killed 14 people outside their Karachi hotel.

Pakistan were also forced to hold Test matches against West Indies in Sharjah and are now searching for a neutral venue for a series against Australia.

However, a series against India is the big prize for Pakistan and Mani confirmed that the ICC would continue to work to restore cricketing ties between the two countries.

"Pakistan have always taken a positive stance and are prepared to play India anywhere at any time," he said.

"The Indian board is of this view also but unfortunately the Indian government has singled cricket out.

"We can only facilitate dialogue and persuade governments that it is not healthy for sports and politics to mix, but we are not in a position to dictate," said Mani.

The ICC announced on Tuesday that Mani would take over as its president in 12 months time.

Mani, a chartered accountant by trade, has represented Pakistan on the ICC since 1989, has served on a number of ICC committees and in 1996 was appointed director of the body's finance and marketing committee, which was dissolved last week.

When asked in an interview with BBC Sport Online on Wednesday what his major ambition for the ICC would be, Mani replied: "I would dearly love the United States to play in the World Cup in 2007.

"If we can bring the standard up to those levels in that country it would be a great achievement."

Mani is keen to promote the further advancement of cricket around the world.

"You can't truly have an international game based on 10 teams, you have to be expansionist and open up new markets," he said.

Mail Cricket Editor