No happy 'families' in this bitter Asia squabble

In some circles it is seen as quaint domestic squabble. The sort where there is daily harassment but you can't call in the cops in what is regarded as a 'family' dispute.

Yet when paranoid neighbours and close cousins, pretending to be caring relatives, start telling you what to do in your own house, it might be an idea to politely suggest they mind their own business.

Do you need a 'family' bully, wagging a fat bejewelled finger in your face? And hearing such dark threats of, 'Do this or else . . .' uttered and scaring the more timid children.

In this case, the query posed here should be, ' . . . Or else what?'

Also, as the cops in this verbal family fracas are already in the corner of those doing the harassing, the two options open are to either ignore the threats from the ugly obsessed 'family' member or think about a form of legal action.

With support from a now compliant International Cricket Council, the BCCI are indulging in that good old political ploy of intimidation of the Pakistan Cricket Board. This was after the PCB issued two players no objection certificates (NOC) to Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved to play for their counties in the looming English season.

As both have retired as international players, giving them their NOCs is the right protocol. How can you ban a player no longer under national contract from making an honest living? It is a question that retired Sri Lanka all-rounder Russel Arnold asked back in January.

Now the BCCI are acting as did the old ICC between 1920 and 1958 when India and Pakistan, along with New Zealand and the West Indies were junior members.