MoU with India was legally binding, says PCB's legal team

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board's legal experts has advised its top brass that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the BCCI last year for a package of five bilateral series was legally binding and not just a MoU.

A highly reliable source in the PCB told PTI that based on the advice given by its legal team, the PCB was contemplating filing for compensation from the BCCI for its failure to play a bilateral series with Pakistan in December.

"The legal team studied the MOU carefully and said it was a legally binding contract and compensation aspect couldn't be ruled out," the source said.

The source added that PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan and the head of the executive committee Najam Sethi were reluctant to go ahead with the compensation claim as they felt that the BCCI by itself had shown willingness to play the series in December.

"Shaharyar in particular believes that BCCI President Shashank Manohar was sincere in wanting restoration of bilateral ties and had himself suggested the short limited over series in Sri Lanka," the source said.

While Pakistan agreed to the proposal the BCCI didn't get clearance from its government to play the series.

The source said the fact that indications were there that India might agree to play a short series sometime in June in England was also keeping the compensation claim plan on hold.

When contacted Shaharyar Khan refused to comment on the matter insisting he would not speak on cricket ties with India until there was a clear statement from the Indian board.

He did concede that Pakistan would discuss the cancelled series when the ICC board meeting is held in February in Dubai.

The source said that the legal team had in its feedback made it clear they were clauses in the MOU which made it legally binding on the BCCI to play the planned bilateral series and for any reason if it didn't compensation could be asked for from them.