The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday decided to examine the recent statement made by controversial pacer Shoaib Akhtar in India during a television reality show.

Akhtar had called the PCB men to be egoistic who had caused damage to not only him but Pakistan cricket in general.

“Obviously there’s a code of conduct for players and those concerned with it will examine it … if it comes in the purview of the code of conduct,” Media Director of PCB, Mansoor Suhail said.

Suhail however, stressed that the Board had been encouraging Akhtar’s participation in cricket and is not blocking his comeback in any way.

“Normally I would not have liked to make a comment on such a statement because things are quite evident to the general public but I feel like making a comment because PCB has gone out of the way for Akhtar to encourage him to participate in cricket,” said Suhail. “We have followed a parallel course for him. He had to pay a fine as a result of the Lahore High Court judgement and still has to but we have not blocked the procedure as such and we have permitted him to carry on with the selection process and that’s basically because we want to encourage him to participate in cricket

The PCB had clarified that it is considering Akhtar as a useful member of the team. But it is not ready to take the statements of the fast bowler in a light way.

Another senior PCB official demanded said that a disciplinary committee headed by General Retd Muneer Hafeez and including Farooq Rehmatullah and Human Resource Director, Nadeem Akram is set up to look into the matter. “They have the power to take suo moto notice of Akhtar’s statement,” he said. Suhail also added that the election of a new Chairman after the resignation of Nasim Ashraf should not take a very long time.

Bookmark It

 Del.icio.us    digg  
 Facebook    Google Bookmarks    Stumble It    Technorati    Yahoo! My Web  
Hide Sites

Karachi, Sep 6: Pakistan’s embattled coach Geoff Lawson has made it clear that there exist no job insecurity following the quitting of Pakistan Cricket Chairman Nasim Ashraf, who was the biggest supporter of the former Aussie Test pacer.
Lawson said here on Saturday he overlooked several lucrative positions in Australia to become Pakistan coach and can go back to some other important job back home any time he likes.
‘I have no insecurity,’ said the former Aussie fast bowler in Karachi. He took over as Pakistan coach last summer following the death of Englishman Bob Woolmer during the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

There have been reports that Lawson is expected to face the axe along with several other people occupying key positions in the cricket establishment once a new PCB chairman is appointed later this month.

Traditionally it is seen that a new PCB chief brings in new set of officials after asking the previous officials to quit or face the axe.

Lawson does not enjoy much experience as an international coach and was handpicked by the former PCB chief ahead of his vastly accomplished compatriot Dav Whatmore.

During his 14-month stint so far, Lawson’s biggest achievement is reaching the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa last September. Under him, Pakistan have played two Test series - against South Africa at home and against India in India, but lost both.

Critics have always raised voices against Lawson calling him a weak coach and the Aussie’s fractious relations with the national selectors and the Pakistani media has not helped his cause much. But Lawson is not a worried man.

“I had several lucrative options in Australia but accepted to be Pakistan’s coach because it was a big challenge for me. And I will continue to focus on my task which is to make Pakistan the world’s best team.”

Lawson said that if the new PCB feels he is not fit for the post, he will happily go back to Australia and take up some other assignment. Lawson lamented the fact that foreign cricketers believe that Pakistan is an unsafe destination for them.

“I live in Lahore and move around in the city like a normal person, going shopping and to restaurants. I don’t feel unsafe,” said Lawson. Lawson travelled to Australia and New Zealand last month to convince the players there that they would be completely safe in Pakistan during the Champions Trophy.

But the players were not convinced and later the ICC was forced to postpone the ICC Champions Trophy. Thanks to the security fears.

‘It was unfortunate. The players were convinced that Pakistan was unsafe because they see this country through the eyes of the Western media and believe it’s a dangerous place,’ says Larson.

Bookmark It

 Del.icio.us    digg  
 Facebook    Google Bookmarks    Stumble It    Technorati    Yahoo! My Web  
Hide Sites

The controversial Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar left for India from Lahore on Saturday. He is on his way to participate in a television show, while insisting that his main priority was to play couple of end season matches for English county side Surrey.

“I am going to India for a day to fulfil a commitment to take part in a television show and after that I will fly out to England to join Surrey,” said Akhtar. He was talking to the reporters at the airport.

Akhtar, who went to London to play for Surrey, had to return home two days back from Heathrow airport after immigration officials did not allow him entry as his work permit and visa documents were not complete. “Everything is now in order and I will join Surrey by Sunday,” said Akthar.

The Pakistan fast bowler also made it clear that he was keen to play for the county side as he wanted to test his form and fitness in some first class games.

“My eventual aim is to play for Pakistan and I feel Surrey offers me the best opportunity to prove my fitness. I am keen to prove myself to the selector and resume my Pakistan career,” he stated.

The pacer had presently filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court against a 18-month ban and seven million rupees fine imposed on him by the appellate tribunal of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The tribunal on appealhad decided to reduce Akhtar’s five-year ban imposed by the PCB disciplinary committee in March to 18 months but added the fine.

Akhtar has not yet deposited the fine despite a legal notice sent to him by the PCB, making it clear he can’t be considered for selection in the national side unless he pays the fine.

The sources close to Akthar said he had stalled the fine issue as Pakistan had no immediate international commitments and he was confident that the Lahore High Court will start hearing his case this month and hopefully deliver a positive judgement. The court has meanwhile suspended the 18-month ban while admitting the petition for hearing two months ago.

Bookmark It

 Del.icio.us    digg  
 Facebook    Google Bookmarks    Stumble It    Technorati    Yahoo! My Web  
Hide Sites

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked Mohammad Asif to defend for himself over the fallout of his testing positive for a banned substance. The incident happened during the Indian Premier League (IPL).
This is Asif’s second drug offence and the board has warned of a life ban if he is found guilty. Asif has pleaded innocence. He claims that he had been extra careful in avoiding usage of any banned substance.

However, after completing his stint with the Delhi Daredevils, he was detained in Dubai for possession of contraband drugs in June for 19 days and he is already the subject of a board inquiry into those events.

As per Shafqat Naghmi,the PCB’s chief operating officer, “Our policy on dope offenders is very clear. The board will not provide any kind of help to Asif and he will have to fight his case himself.

Asif is now in deep trouble as a second drug offence means a life ban. If he is left to fight for himself this time, it simply means a change the board’s policy. In 2006, Asif and Shoaib Akhtar had their bans overturned after appealing successfully to an independent committee against the original puishments. Though they had a technical escape, it was widely speculated that the decision had the PCB’s complicit support.

Asif was again later detained at Dubai airport, and the board subsequently provided legal aid and behind-the-scenes help to secure his release. Naghmi said the board has demanded Asif to return those expenses.

The PCB’s reluctance to help Asif may also stem from the confusion over which body - from the ICC, BCCI, IPL or the PCB - has jurisdiction over this latest scandal. The ICC in a release stated yesterday that it was the responsibility of the BCCI to “deal with the process in a timely and fair manner” and Naghmi said it’s likely the BCCI would form a tribunal and the ICC’s anti-doping policy would apply.

The decision of PCB to distance itself from the Asif casehas invited lashings from  former Pakistan cricketers .  Aamer Sohail, a former captain, has blamed the board for not taking appropriate action against doping after Asif and Shoaib tested positive for a banned substance Nandrolone in 2006.

“My question is, what has the PCB done in this regard,” asks  Sohail . “What measures did the board take since Asif and Shoaib Akhtar tested positive for banned drugs in 2006? Had they introduced dope testing in domestic cricket? The board has totally failed to handle things.”

The last two years have been the worst for Pakistan cricket. The recent incidents show that the situation will get worsened if no action is taken.

Bookmark It

 Del.icio.us    digg  
 Facebook    Google Bookmarks    Stumble It    Technorati    Yahoo! My Web  
Hide Sites

The Pakistan Cricket Board have promised top level security arrangements to participating nations during the Champions Trophy in September. Many full member cricket countries have expressed their fears about touring Pakistan after Australia postponed this month’s tour to the troubled country.

Pakistan has witnessed a rise in bombing incidents since the death of former premier Benazir Bhutto in December last year, which has triggered debate about moving the Champions Trophy to Sri Lanka. But PCB chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi is adamant that they will have no trouble in hosting the event. “We see no reason why anybody should be talking about taking the tournament away from here,” he told the News. The Champions Trophy is still more than five months away and the officials are hopeful that things will get better in Pakistan in the coming days. They are ready to offer all possible assurances to assuage any fears regarding the safety of players and officials. The players and officials will be provided with a security cover generally reserved for visiting VIPs.Also the International Cricket Council was helping them with the arrangements for the tournament. The ICC officials are coming there to discuss the (tournament) budget and to inspect the venues and other arrangements.

The Pak officials are working on improving the infrastructure for the Champions Trophy and are in close contact with the ICC to sort out other details involved in the staging of such a mega event.

Bookmark It

 Del.icio.us    digg  
 Facebook    Google Bookmarks    Stumble It    Technorati    Yahoo! My Web  
Hide Sites