Former ICC chief takes aim at PCB
Source: Agencies |
August 12, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
FORMER ICC president Ehsan Mani said the Pakistan Cricket Board is not equipped to revive international cricket in Pakistan while Ijaz Butt remains in charge.
"There's a possibility of an international XI touring Pakistan within one year, but it's impossible for the present board working under Ijaz Butt to fully revive international cricket in Pakistan," Mani was quoted as saying in the Urdu language daily Jang yesterday.
The PCB is yet to submit a report on last year's militant attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus at Lahore that left six police officials and a van driver dead. The gunmen also injured several Sri Lankan team players and officials.
A Lahore high court judge has heavily criticized senior police officials in his report for being ill-prepared, poorly equipped and incompetent in their efforts to prevent the attack on March 3, 2009.
"Until this report is handed over to the ICC, revival of international cricket in Pakistan is impossible," he said.
Mani said the PCB had promised presidential level security to the Sri Lankan cricket team, but "it has thus far not been able to fix the responsibility of the attack on anyone."
Mani said he was willing to help Pakistan, but he needed complete independence to run the affairs of cricket.
"If the board is run like it is nowadays, it will affect the team's performance," he said.
"There is lot of confusion in the decision making of the PCB which is also damaging country's image."
Mani also said the actions of PCB chairman Butt to be more accountable saying; "without accountability there is no chance of improvement."
Former captain Zaheer Abbas expressed fear for the future of cricket in the country following Pakistan's poor performances in England.
"Our cricket is already facing problems due to the security situation keeping away teams from touring Pakistan, we can't afford such shoddy performances," Abbas said yesterday.
"Cricket took a dip in Pakistan because of the refusal of teams to tour Pakistan but if we continue to perform like this at neutral venues or abroad then I fear people will lose total interest in cricket."
"There's a possibility of an international XI touring Pakistan within one year, but it's impossible for the present board working under Ijaz Butt to fully revive international cricket in Pakistan," Mani was quoted as saying in the Urdu language daily Jang yesterday.
The PCB is yet to submit a report on last year's militant attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus at Lahore that left six police officials and a van driver dead. The gunmen also injured several Sri Lankan team players and officials.
A Lahore high court judge has heavily criticized senior police officials in his report for being ill-prepared, poorly equipped and incompetent in their efforts to prevent the attack on March 3, 2009.
"Until this report is handed over to the ICC, revival of international cricket in Pakistan is impossible," he said.
Mani said the PCB had promised presidential level security to the Sri Lankan cricket team, but "it has thus far not been able to fix the responsibility of the attack on anyone."
Mani said he was willing to help Pakistan, but he needed complete independence to run the affairs of cricket.
"If the board is run like it is nowadays, it will affect the team's performance," he said.
"There is lot of confusion in the decision making of the PCB which is also damaging country's image."
Mani also said the actions of PCB chairman Butt to be more accountable saying; "without accountability there is no chance of improvement."
Former captain Zaheer Abbas expressed fear for the future of cricket in the country following Pakistan's poor performances in England.
"Our cricket is already facing problems due to the security situation keeping away teams from touring Pakistan, we can't afford such shoddy performances," Abbas said yesterday.
"Cricket took a dip in Pakistan because of the refusal of teams to tour Pakistan but if we continue to perform like this at neutral venues or abroad then I fear people will lose total interest in cricket."
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