|
|
|
| September 20, 2005 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 15, 1426 |
No pressure on Inzamam to play in Super Series
KARACHI, Sept 19: Inzamamul Haq will not be pressurized to pull out of Super Series in Australia if he is picked for the World XI, according to PCB chairman Shaharyar M Khan.
Inzamam, who was a shock omission when the final World XI squads for the three-match one-day series and the one-off Test were named, is likely to replace either the recuperating Sachin Tendulkar or the injured Herschelle Gibbs later this week for next month’s internationals against Australia in Melbourne and Sydney.
The 35-year-old, who is also expected to attend the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) captains’ meeting in Sydney, was forced to miss two of the three Tests in Australia last season after a recurrence of back problem aggravated by long flight.
“I have told Inzamam that it’s up to him to decide whether he wishes to travel to Australia either for the ICC captains meeting or the Super Series matches,” the PCB chief told reporters at the National Stadium on Monday.
“However, I have requested him (Inzamam) to break his journey en route to Sydney so that he can give his back ample rest. The reason for telling him all this is to ensure that Inzamam remains fit for the crucial home series against England,” he clarified.
Meanwhile, the PCB chairman announced that the cricket board would soon have the regional first-class teams sponsored in the wake of growing interest in domestic cricket, the forthcoming series against England and India and the popularity of Twenty20 Cup.
“Several institutions, both in public and private sectors, have shown interest in sponsoring regions during the championships this season. We have agreed on a reserve price scale during our ad hoc committee meeting on Monday afternoon,” he said.
According to the scale, the reserve price for Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi have been fixed at Rs5 million per annum, Multan, Faisalabad and Peshawar Rs4 million while Rs3.5 million per year is set for Islamabad, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Quetta and Abbottabad.
The PCB plans to have bids covering a three-year period.
The PCB chief gave details of development of stadiums in two towns of Azad Jammu Kashmir, Mirpur and Muzaffarabad, and declared that an international stadium in Muzaffarabad was coming up fast by next year.
He also disclosed that PCB had selected three bids — from India, South Africa and the US — for the proposed installation of digital scoreboards and video replay screens at the Test centres. However, it was unlikely that PCB would be able to get the equipment installed in time for the England series.
On the appointments of coaches at the National Cricket Academy, the PCB chairman announced that a three-member committee comprising PCB chief, Salim Altaf (PCB director cricket operations) and former Test wicket-keeper Imtiaz Ahmed would shortlist candidates for the final interview.
|
|
|
|
