Thursday, June 23, 2011
PCB to overhaul club structure
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday revealed plans of overhauling the country’s club cricket structure following a meeting of its Governing Board in Lahore.
Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said that the Board will make all out investment in lifting club cricket all over the country.
The Board has decided to appoint former Pakistan Test spinner Abdul Qadir as the project’s coordinator. Qadir, who resigned as Pakistan’s chief selector after falling out with Butt in 2009, is expected to get the support of several other former Test cricketers including Sarfraz Nawaz, a former Pakisan fast bowler. Sarfraz has been an ardent critic of PCB but softened his stance against the Board during its bitter dispute with former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.
According to the PCB, Sarfraz has been offered to join the project but the Board is still awaiting his response. Ijaz Ahmed, a former Pakistan Test batsman, is also expected to be hired for the project.
The Board has also decided to award contacts to 20 players from each of its 11 regions.
Speaking to reporters, Butt said that the PCB will make best possible efforts to revive the Pakistan-India series.
He also rejected the impression that the PCB has been suffering from major losses by hosting its ‘home’ matches on neutral venues. According to him, some of the series played abroad are profitable while others end in financial losses for the Board.
Security problems in Pakistan have forced the PCB o host its ‘home’ matches on offshore venues in UAE and England.
The PCB’s governing board approved the budget but did not disclose its total amount. “A deficit budget has been approved,” said Butt.
He claimed that the board had various plans to overcome the deficit. “We have plans to lift club cricket so that our domestic cricket improves and for that we have planned around 5,000 matches at club level in the country in the next season.”
He added that PCB was also making efforts to host its own Twenty20 league, modelled on the lucrative Indian Premier League.
“We want to stage our own Twenty20 league although we do not have the expertise but we are still trying,” he added. A panel of 12 lawyers has also been appointed to help the PCB on the legal front.
Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, said that the Board will make all out investment in lifting club cricket all over the country.
The Board has decided to appoint former Pakistan Test spinner Abdul Qadir as the project’s coordinator. Qadir, who resigned as Pakistan’s chief selector after falling out with Butt in 2009, is expected to get the support of several other former Test cricketers including Sarfraz Nawaz, a former Pakisan fast bowler. Sarfraz has been an ardent critic of PCB but softened his stance against the Board during its bitter dispute with former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.
According to the PCB, Sarfraz has been offered to join the project but the Board is still awaiting his response. Ijaz Ahmed, a former Pakistan Test batsman, is also expected to be hired for the project.
The Board has also decided to award contacts to 20 players from each of its 11 regions.
Speaking to reporters, Butt said that the PCB will make best possible efforts to revive the Pakistan-India series.
He also rejected the impression that the PCB has been suffering from major losses by hosting its ‘home’ matches on neutral venues. According to him, some of the series played abroad are profitable while others end in financial losses for the Board.
Security problems in Pakistan have forced the PCB o host its ‘home’ matches on offshore venues in UAE and England.
The PCB’s governing board approved the budget but did not disclose its total amount. “A deficit budget has been approved,” said Butt.
He claimed that the board had various plans to overcome the deficit. “We have plans to lift club cricket so that our domestic cricket improves and for that we have planned around 5,000 matches at club level in the country in the next season.”
He added that PCB was also making efforts to host its own Twenty20 league, modelled on the lucrative Indian Premier League.
“We want to stage our own Twenty20 league although we do not have the expertise but we are still trying,” he added. A panel of 12 lawyers has also been appointed to help the PCB on the legal front.
PCB committee to review Ilyas suspension case
: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a two-member committee to review the suspension case of Mohammad Ilyas, member of national selection committee, Geo News reported.
The two-member disciplinary committee includes PCB Director Domestic, Sultan Rana and General Manager Domestic, Shafiq Pasha.
The committee meeting is expected to be held in two days.
Mohammad Ilyas was issued show cause notice on appearing before media and in a television program. The board suspended Ilyas on not providing a satisfactory reply.
The two-member disciplinary committee includes PCB Director Domestic, Sultan Rana and General Manager Domestic, Shafiq Pasha.
The committee meeting is expected to be held in two days.
Mohammad Ilyas was issued show cause notice on appearing before media and in a television program. The board suspended Ilyas on not providing a satisfactory reply.
'Gayle willing to apologise if needed'
The long-standing feud between Chris Gayle and the West Indies Cricket Board could finally end as the WICB wants to meet him again.
This comes after the Players' Association vice-president Wavell Hinds said the batsman is willing to apologise if needed.
Gayle was left out of the West Indies squad for the ongoing Test series against India after a June 14 meeting to sort out their differences ended on a stormy note.
The feud originally started when Gayle criticised the WICB for leaving him in a lurch during his injury problems.
But after months of bickering, the WICB has written to Gayle again stating that "the June 14 meeting failed as the discussions were repeatedly diverted to peripheral issues instead of being focussed on finding a constructive solution to the matter before us".
"However, the Board does recognise your contributions to West Indies cricket and the value which you bring to a West Indies team; and remains available to meet with you, should you be willing to do so, so that we can bring some resolution to this matter. We await your response to discuss a mutually acceptable way forward," 'ESPN Cricinfo' quoted WICB chief Ernest Hilaire as saying in the letter.
The latest letter comes after Hinds said Gayle was willing to explain himself and even apologise.
"He (Gayle) is prepared to answer the charges as honestly as he can and if there is a need to say sorry, I think he will say sorry," Hinds said.
"Where he feels firm and has strong substance to back up his claims he will stand by them. If there are claims he has made where he has been a little excessive he is prepared to put his hand up and say sorry," he added.
But the WICB continues to be miffed with WIPA chief Dinanath Ramnarine, who it alleged threatened Hilaire with a chair during the June 14 meeting.
"WIPA should either facilitate an apology to the CEO from Ramnarine, together with an assurance/undertaking that he will not engage in any physical or verbal threats during meetings with representatives of the West Indies Cricket Board or identify alternative WIPA representatives to engage in meetings with the WICB," the board said in a statement.
Boycott: Outvote India on DRS
Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott feels cricket-playing countries should combine to outvote BCCI's opposition to the Decision Review System in the ICC.
"If a majority of the ICC countries believe that the DRS is a good improvement for international cricket, they should vote for it and say, 'Sorry India, you are in a minority.' It's supposed to be a democracy around the world, where the majority takes precedence," Boycott said.
"But there is fear to offend, and some countries are totally afraid to offend India. They should get around to it and say, 'No. Since a majority of us believe it is good, we're going to do it,' the better. Simple as that. India won't like it, but you can't be run by one country," he added.
India has vehemently opposed the DRS, saying it does not trust the technology to be foolproof, blocking its usage in the upcoming tour of England most recently.
Boycott said it is just the fear of BCCI's money might that is preventing other Boards from speaking up in favour of DRS.
"Many countries that play cricket are frightened to death of India's financial power. You've got to understand that before you get to voting on anything at the ICC," he said.
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