Imran won’t be able to keep Chennai date

KOLKATA: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), who will organise a seminar in Chennai on the eve of two Afro-Asia Cup matches there next month, has ‘lost’ its star speaker and legendary cricketer — Imran Khan.

“There are too many things happening on political front in Pakistan and, so,
Imran has expressed his regrets for not participating in the seminar. We’re
disappointed,”

ACC chief executive Syed Ashraful Huq said. The seminar, with `Leading Cricket’ as its theme, will be held on June 8.Huq said Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene and senior pro Shaun Pollock, a former South African captain, are “certain” to participate. Jayawardene is captaining Asia and there’s a good chance Pollock is going to be Graeme Smith’s (injured) replacement as South Africa captain.

“ICC President Percy Sonn’s death has come in way of a meeting involving
Africa’s selectors. We’ve been busy making arrangements for Saturday’s funeral
in Cape Town,”

is what somebody involved with selection process said.

A decision is expected in a day or two.

“Right now, there are plans for two Board chiefs (India’s Sharad Pawar and
Pakistan’s Dr Nasim Ashraf), too, to take part in the seminar,”

Huq added.

Besides a representative from women’s cricket, there could be a guest speaker from Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

Afro-Asia Cup gets underway in Bangalore on June 6. Edition No 1 was hosted by South Africa in August 2005.