LAHORE, March 27: Ramiz Raja, the chief executive of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), admitted on Saturday that the former Test cricketers could not be entertained during the recent one-day series because of logistic problems.
"The tight security and pressure of work on the PCB staff during the series caused problems and the board could not take care of the old heroes," Ramiz told a press conference.
PCB had failed to invite former Test stars to see the fourth One-day International between Pakistan and India at the Qadhafi Stadium last Sunday.
After being criticised, the PCB sent two tickets of Rs500 denomination to each of the former Test players for the fifth match.
But the cricketers returned the tickets, saying the ticket's denomination was not at par with their status. Later, they held a press conference and held Ramiz responsible for the fiasco.
Ramiz said that he had great respect for the old cricketers but added some of them had jealousy and self interest in criticising him.
Ramiz said that the PCB, along with Imran Khan and Wasim Akram had also invited great hero Fazal Mahmood to give lecture to the Pakistan squad before the start of the series against India.
He went on to say the PCB also provided necessary equipment to Imtiaz Ahmed's cricket academy and Hanif Mohammad had been included in the board's advisory council.
It may be mentioned here that president of Pakistan. who gave away gold medals to the 1952 team in Islamabad last year, also announced a cash prize of Rs250,000 for each member of that team.
But later, the PCB withdrew the cash prize, saying it had failed to get any sponsor. Later, the gold medals were found to be fake.
Ramiz, a controversial figure, alleged that ex-Test player Ijaz Butt was responsible in creating bad blood between the PCB and the cricket association.
