PCB copes with Senate bouncer

April 6th, 2008 Sana · No Comments

KARACHI, April 5: The Senate’s standing committee on sports and culture has summoned Pakistan Cricket Board officials and Shoaib Akhtar, banned for five years, to a hearing to make sure no injustice is done to the cricketer.

The panel’s chairman, Mr Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, summoned the officials - inclusive of the head of the disciplinary committee that banned Shoaib - after a ruling People’s Party senator had requested a discussion on Pakistan’s cricket affairs.

“We would like to hear both parties. We want to be sure no injustice has been done to and by anyone,” Mr Chaudhry said, adding that senators wanted the national team’s performances and the board’s affairs discussed in detail.

Mr Enver Baig, the senator who led the move for the hearing, was sued by the PCB chairman, Mr Nasim Ashraf, last year after being criticised, with an exchange of apologies eventually ending the row for the moment.

“We are not trying to start a witchhunt against the PCB but there are problems in the cricket setup which need to be discussed. We also want to know the reasons behind such a harsh ban on a senior player,” Mr Baig said.

Mr Ashraf said he had no problems attending the hearing and would try to explain the action against Shoaib.

“The board is always told that it is soft on disciplinary issues and when we take a hard decision, we need the support of the people,” he said.

Team unaffected

Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has said his team were neither affected nor distracted by the controversial ban. The players, he said, were concentrating on doing well against Bangladesh. “It is something between the board and a player. We are professional players and supposed to concentrate on our jobs.

The ongoing national one-day tournament has helped us get into shape for the coming series and we are going to have a short camp before the first match on Tuesday.

“We are looking forward to the series and are keen on doing well in it,” he added. Malik said Pakistan had enough talent to do well in the series and their target would be to win all the matches.

Lawson in trouble

Demanding an explanation for his statements on the ban, the PCB has warned the chief coach, Mr Geoff Lawson, against making further comments on issues which were not in his domain.

“We have told Mr Lawson we would like him to concentrate on his job and leave administrative matters to the board. He has a great responsibility on his shoulders and shouldn’t be commenting on such issues,” a senior official said.