Speed tells PCB to keep quiet

International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Malcolm Speed has warned Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to cease and desist from making any further public comments regarding the upcoming hearing into ball tampering.

In a prepared statement Speed said: “I have been very disappointed by some of the public comments that have been made by members of the PCB, team management and captain Inzamam following the Oval Test.”

“These (are) unnecessary and inappropriate public comments from the PCB, much of which could be seen as prejudicial to the pending Code of Conduct hearing,” he added.

In reply the PCB said that they were expecting the hearing to be conducted on the 27th or 28th of September and are anxious to have the hearing as soon as possible.

They have also queried the ICC over the up coming Champions Trophy.

The squad which is due to be announced on Thursday will naturally include the Pakistan captain, but if Inzamam is suspended the ICC laws do not allow teams to replace a player who has subsequently been banned.