'PCB's decision to boycott ICC awards ceremony childish'

Former ICC president Ehsan Mani on Wednesday termed PCB's decision to boycott the ICC Awards Ceremony for omitting off-spinner Saeed Ajmal's name from nominations as a "childish move" and feels that it will marginalise country's parent body. 

"It will be a childish act," said Mani. 

"The PCB supporting their cricketer is fine and that is within their right. But boycotting the ceremony will marginalise us. The PCB should use other fronts to protest the decision and avoid such embarrassment in the future," Mani told Express Tribune newspaper. 

"They should raise the matter in the next ICC board meeting and call for an inquiry on the selection process made for this year." The former ICC boss however didn't forget to critcise cricket's governing body for omitting Ajmal's name. 

"A mistake has been made somewhere and the ICC should accept this because Ajmal's performance speaks for itself.  He was definitely a deserving candidate for one of the award categories," Mani stated. 

Mani also said that had he been at the helm, he would have changed the decision and included Ajmal's name in that list. 

"I am aware of the selection process and its transparency but I feel the ICC has made a mistake over Ajmal. This is a mistake made at the executive level. The ICC must admit it and include the spinner among the final nominees. It needs  strong leadership but it is still possible to make amends in the list. If I was the ICC chief I would have ordered it."