The ICC law 1.4(11) could have been invoked here to save India. As per 1.4(11) to play Under-19 cricket or above at the international level, a player has to be
a) a national or
b) be born in a recognized country or
c) is resident in the country for at least 90 days in each of the immediately preceding seven years.
A sub-section of the law that enumerates a "disputed domicile" states that any player from a country/state not recognized by all Test-playing and associate members of the ICC can be disqualified at any time if they fail to submit a certificate of clearance from ICC (hours prior to a match to the host country).
These certificates were not submitted by Pakistani Foreign Ministry to MEA,India on time and in absances of such certificate all these players could be disqualified and another rule says that if 4 or more players from a team of disqualified then irrespective of match result match will be deemed as null and void and defeated team is automatically eligible for a walkover.
MEA had an emergency cabinet meeting around 5 pm, when the Indian innings seemed to be floundering after in-form Yuvraj Singh lost his wicket to a full toss and Pakistani spinners took control leaving India gasping at 194/5.Then BJP leader Jaitley told SM Krishna "..a win looks impossible,..” and then they floated the idea of match reversalon the basis of law 1.4(11) .
Krishna, who reportedly contacted Singh to apprise him of the latest development, was asked by him not to go ahead with plans of a match reversal in case India lost to Pakistan to uphold the spirit of the game.
Singh is said to have told Krishna that “India will always play fair, be in war or in cricket, and there will be no exception to that rule.” A united Opposition led by Jaitley said they were ready to dispute Singh’s decision to “play the game fair” had India lost to Pakistan, in Parliament’s monsoon session starting July 26.
As it turned out, India won the match, making all of this a hypothetical possibility only. But it remains to be seen whether Singh’s refusal to take this drastic step will be continued in his management of India-Pakistan relations in the face of a belligerent Opposition.
Krishna, who reportedly contacted Singh to apprise him of the latest development, was asked by him not to go ahead with plans of a match reversal in case India lost to Pakistan to uphold the spirit of the game.
Singh is said to have told Krishna that “India will always play fair, be in war or in cricket, and there will be no exception to that rule.” A united Opposition led by Jaitley said they were ready to dispute Singh’s decision to “play the game fair” had India lost to Pakistan, in Parliament’s monsoon session starting July 26.
As it turned out, India won the match, making all of this a hypothetical possibility only. But it remains to be seen whether Singh’s refusal to take this drastic step will be continued in his management of India-Pakistan relations in the face of a belligerent Opposition.
Considering the date of the day before the World Cup final, there is no reason to believe any of this. This report is a figment of the imagination, in keeping with the spirit of the first of April.
