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ICC rebuts Bashir charges

Zahid Bashir, Pakistan Cricket Board's marketing manager, claims to be in possession of documents that show International Cricket Council (ICC) president Jagmohan Dalmiya, ICC Chief Executive David Richards, and WorldTel's Mark Mascarenhas, in alleged corrupt dealings over international television rights.

The trio have been quick to deny Bashir's charges which go a step further by saying that they have allegedly formed an offshore company.

Bashir, who spoke to a correspondent of the Dubai-based newspaper, Gulf News, claimed that he had been given the alleged documents, involving irregularities in TV deals in Dubai during the recent Coca Cola Cup in Sharjah.

Bashir told the paper that he has submitted a set of papers to the PCB chairman, Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia. Pakistan Cricket Board comes under the umbrella of the International Cricket Council along with the boards of nine Test-playing countries.

"I have given photocopies to Zia. And of course, I have discussed the matter with my lawyers," Bashir told Gulf News. "The General (PCB chief Zia) is going to take up the matter regarding the TV rights in the ICC."

Bashir added that his lawyers were going through the documents, after which he will invite reporters of CNN, BBC, Star Sports, as well as the international media. "I will show them the documents."

The trio in question, when contacted by the paper, vehemently denied the allegations. An angry Dalmiya dismissed the charges, saying that he had no dealings with the PCB's marketing manager, while representing the ICC.

Dalmiya was quoted as saying: "Why should I answer to allegations from a man whom I don't even know? Who is he? What is his locus standi in the deal? How is he concerned? He may say anything.

"I am asking you that if some allegations are made against Clinton, will you telephone and ask him whether such a thing happened in the White House? To me he is persona non grata. Why should I react?"

David Richards, too, was emphatic in his denial: "I categorically deny that I am, or have been involved in, any corrupt dealing over television rights. Further Messers Dalmiya, Richards and Mascarenhas have not formed an offshore company."

"I welcome him to show me this offshore company. Don't play a cat and mouse game. I am not afraid. My conscience is clear. Come out with whatever you have and hand it over to the authorities. We are interested in hearing the truth."

Mascarenhas said: "If in fact Bashir has documents which he claims are damaging, he should hand them over to police or the authorities. I don't know why he keeps calling my solicitor, saying that if I call him to London at my expense, then he will explain everything."

Bashir, on the other hand, claims that Mascarenhas had been calling him. "During our conversation he told me that I should give him the name of the contact who handed over the documents to me."

Mascarenhas says: "My point is that I have no fear whatsoever of any documents that Bashir claims he has. If he is interested in bringing out the truth, as we are, then he should not be worried about declaring the document and revealing the person who handed it to him.

"What I cannot understand is why a PCB official is taking such an interest in the mudslinging that is going on in India? What is his motive?" the paper quoted Mascarenhas as asking.