By Syed Intikhab Ali
The PCB’s top hierarchy seems to be confused about how to tackle the crises it is facing.
Pakistan would not be able to qualify for the World Cup 2019 if they did not get themselves among the top eight teams in ODIs by September 2017. Pakistan at present are 9th in the rankings.
Nobody in the Governing Body meeting discussed this issue seriously. This shows how little they are concerned about Pakistan’s cricket matters.
The former joint secretary of Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Mian Aslam, who has been a former ICC panel umpire, has expressed surprise at the PCB’s Governing Body meeting failing to take notice of the “third-class” pitches prepared for domestic cricket.
“What are they doing? Domestic cricket pitches neither help fast bowlers nor do they produce good batsmen. All curators are appointed by PCB and paid by PCB,” said Aslam.
“What has PCB been doing for the development of domestic cricket wickets? Pakistan may fail to qualify for the World Cup 2019, but this issue was not discussed,” he said.
He said that the PCB Governing Body members admitted that the PCB had failed to prepare fast, result-producing wickets. “Instead of taking action against those who have been responsible for the preparation of domestic cricket wickets, they only decided to make the wickets fast and grassy in future. What future are they talking about? After we get out of the World Cup,” Aslam said.
Aslam said the PCB has its own curators and support staff in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Mirpur, Abbottabad and Hyderabad. “Curators draw from 40,000 to 70,000 rupees a month. Besides they have support staff. What action has been taken against the officials who were responsible for making such dead wickets which have destroyed our batsmen’s abilities?
“The political appointments have destroyed the system. There are two lobbies that are fighting to get the maximum out of this cow.
“Once again the musical chairs game is being played as far as the lucrative posts are concerned. Former cricketer Ali Zia, who was working as general manager domestic, has been transferred once again to National Cricket Academy (NCA) where his close relative Mudassar Nazar has been appointed. One can imagine how the cricket affairs are being run,” said Aslam.
Former Test cricketer Shafiq Papa has once again been made general manager domestic. Haroon Rashid who had been kicked out after the disastrous performance in Asia Cup T20 and World T20 a couple of months back is on the waiting list of appointments.
“When Pakistan U-19 cricket team lost in the World Cup it was said that selection had not been conducted on merit, but now the chairman of that selection committee, Basit Ali, has been appointed head coach,” he said.
He said it was surprising that PCB chairman had given six months to check the degrees of some employees. “When the degrees can be checked in one month’s time of all parliamentarians and high officials of federal and provincial governments, why has the PCB given six months for such a petty job?” he said.
Aslam said the tussle of two bigwigs in the PCB could lead to Pakistan failing to qualify for the World Cup 2019.
PCB, which wanted to launch downsizing to improve its financial position, has fired only those who were drawing nominal salaries, doing their work with punctuality and were not involved in corruption. But those appointed on political grounds and drawing heavy salaries continue to be on PCB’s payroll.