World Cup: PCB’s Mani not impress with Star Sports Indo-Pak teasers

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani has voiced against the teasers aired by ICC host broadcaster, Star Sports, to promote the India-Pakistan clash, saying that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should take note of it.

“I think this is for the ICC to take note. Star is the host broadcaster. They are not an Indian broadcaster, they are the broadcaster of the ICC. They should be fair to all teams. That (the teasers) is not part of cricket,” said Mani, quoted the Indian Express.

The PCB chief too was not impressed with World Cup-linked Pakistan TV channel spoof about IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. “I haven’t seen that. But obviously it’s not in the spirit of the game if it is true,”

The footage shows an actor with a moustache nearly as impressive as Varthaman, who was held captive in Pakistan for close to 60 hours after his aircraft was shot down in action along the LoC that followed the Balakot air strikes.

In the video when the actor is asked: “What you are going to opt for after winning the toss? Who is in playing eleven?” he responds cordially with Varthaman’s now-famous “I am not supposed to tell you that, sir”.

At the end of the video, the pilot gets up to leave — but the interrogator quickly asks him to “leave the cup”, a clear reference to the trophy.