August 21, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-us-Sani 22, 1424

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LAHORE, Aug 20: Former Test cricketer Mohammad Ilyas on Wednesday criticized chief selector Aamir Sohail and Pakistan Cricke Board (PCB) Chief Executive Ramiz Raja for working as commentators on TV in the first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh.

“Aamir as a chief selector has a difficult role but as a commentator he has become a judge, a jury and an executioner as well. I wonder how he can say good or bad words about his own selected team”, declared Ilyas while talking to Dawn.

He also said that it was wrong on the part of Ramiz to do work as a commentator being a top PCB official holding four assignments.

A controversial figure Ilyas also blasted the selection criteria and termed Aamir as “confused” individual.

He said  that the players like Hasan Raza, Mohammad  Zahid, Rana Navid-ul-Hasan, Imran Farhat, Bazid Khan and Navid Latif had become the victims of Aamir’s so called attempt of increasing the pool of players.“The chairman claims he prefers to have a bigger pool of players at his command, however, the waters of his pool have become so murky that more cricketers will sink than swim in the depths of it”, Ilyas said.

Ilyas alleged that Pakistan Test camp once an item of prized possession was now readily available today on “clearance sale” and the manner the selection committee was operating he would not at all be surprised if a Pakistan cap was offered to PCB chairman  General Tauqir  Zia beause he had recently proved himself fit by playing in an exhibition match.

He said that with Pakistan being so lowly ranked in the world it was astonishing that well established players like Shoaib Akhtar and Younis Khan were not willing to don the green cap.

“These prima donnas are allowed to pick and choose matches while more deserving and patriotic players can only look on in despair”, lamented Ilyas.

He advised the PCB chairman to put his foot down other-wise the board would only have to its credit, the hosting  matches of show biz personalities.

He said that certainly, Pakistan was a stronger side than Bangladesh but the chairman of the  selection committee was looking no further than the end of his nose and was not considering the different ball game that would be South Africa and New Zealand.