The National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports has expressed dissatisfaction over Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt’s attitude towards the committee following the chairman’s absence at the committee meeting here on Tuesday. The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Iqbal Muhammad Ali, reviewed the Pakistan team’s performance during the England tour besides discussing the spot-fixing scandal and exclusion of former captain Younus Khan from the team. Pakistan coach Waqar Younis and chief selector Mohsin Hasan Khan along with PCB chief operating officer Wasim Bari appeared before the committee. However, Ijaz could not attend the meeting as he is presently in Dubai. The committee termed his absence as further evidence of irresponsible behavior as he did not give any reason for his absence.
Ijaz was recently caught up in the spot-fixing scandal that rocked the cricketing world. He had earlier drawn the ire of the committee when its chairman had said that Ijaz should be sacked or the entire committee would be resign. However, Bari claimed otherwise. He said the sports ministry knew Ijaz would not be able to attend.
Coach, captain’s inputs be made mandatory: The committee recommended to the PCB to make it mandatory for the national team’s chief selector to take inputs from the coach and the captain while selecting players for any tour. Waqar informed the meeting that Mohsin did not consult with him while announcing team for the upcoming series against South Africa in UAE. “Although it is the right of the chief selector to announce the team but it will be better if inputs from the coach and the captain are also taken in this regard,” Waqar maintained.
However, Mohsin differed with Waqar and said that although it was the sole prerogative of the chief selector to announce the team, he had always been taking the coach and the captain onboard. Mohsin said it was for the first time that the selection committee was unable to take their suggestions. “I was directed by PCB chief Ijaz to announce the team without any delay because there was short time left. I was told there could be problems in acquiring visas. And as Waqar was not in the country and the team’s captain was also to be announced later, it was not possible to consult them,” Mohsin stated.
The committee was of the view that the coach and the captain were important members of the squad and they should be consulted for the team’s selection prior to any tour or event. About the team’s performance during the England tour, Waqar said their performance had been good if not outstanding. “I am totally impressed with the boys. Despite controversies they did really well,” he said. Bari told the parliamentarians that the Scotland Yard and the International Cricket Council (ICC) were investigating into the alleged spot-fixing scandal of Pakistan trio – Salaman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer. “None of the allegations have been proved yet and I hope that our players will get out of this problem clean and clear,” he added.
