Ijaz Butt

Pakistan’s cricket chief left on Friday on a South Asian tour to try to win support in his battle against the ICC’s decision to strip the country of its World Cup matches, an official said. PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt will meet Sri Lanka Cricket interim committee head Somachandra De Silva in Colombo and then travel to Delhi to meet ICC vice president Sharad Pawar on Monday regarding the World Cup decision. The chairman will also meet the head of the Bangladesh Cricket Board and will visit South Africa where he is due to meet the officials of various other boards & attend the semi finals and final of IPL.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has legally challenged last month’s decision by the International Cricket Council to move the country’s 14 World Cup 2011 matches due to the “uncertain security situation.”

The PCB said the decision to remove Pakistan as a co-host contravened ICC articles and the 2006 agreement that awarded the competition jointly to Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

PCB Spokesman regardless of confirming Ejaz Butt’s visit in three countries refused to give away any further information regarding his[PCB Chairman] surprise visit.

This tour and meetings will be beneficial in making an image and lobby for Pakistan and hope it will work for us.