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.

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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.

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