October 10, 2006	Tuesday	Ramazan 16, 1427

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LAHORE, Oct 9: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ad hoc committee on Monday reaffirmed Inzamam-ul-Haq as captain and Younis Khan as vice-captain for the home series against West Indies which starts from Nov 6.

Newly appointed PCB chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf told reporters after chairing his first ad hoc committee meeting, as chairman.

Inzamam also met the new chairman in the morning to discuss many issues relating to last week crisis, resulting from Younis Khan’s refusal of the captaincy, two days before the team was to leave for India.

Dr Nasim explained that the ad hoc committee had already taken the decision of appointing Inzamam as captain for the West Indies series and reaffirmed its early decision.

He said the committee also decided that the paid selection committee would be appointed immediately after the end of the World Cup.

“The ad hoc set-up considers the long standing issue of the paid selection committee and has unanimously decided that it is not the appropriate time to make any changes in the committee and the present selectors who raised the team should be given time to see the ultimate results of their selection in the World Cup,” he said.

“Immediately after the World Cup, the paid selection committee will be formed for which the board will suggest the job description and they will be watching the entire domestic season to pick the best lot for the different teams,” he said.

He said that the committee also approved all the plans made by Director Cricket Operations, Saleem Altaf for the forthcoming tour of the West Indies.

He informed that West Indies are scheduled to arrive on Nov 6 but probably would come earlier depending on their performance in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy.

Dr Nasim said that he was committed to implement the permanent PCB’s constitution and the ad hoc committee took a big step in this regard by giving it final touches.

“First I was expecting the draft will be handed over to the Patron of the Board in the next 45 days, but now it will be there by the first of November,” he claimed.

Dr Nasim also announced that a third party would be engaged for the complete audit of the PCB accounts and appointed Ali Raza, a member of the ad hoc committee, as head to oversee the entire process.

“The audit does not mean it is against anybody, we are only taking the financial stock into account to know what is PCB’s financial position and what are its assets. The PCB will also inform the media and public of the outcome of the reports of the third party audit,” he said.

He said the audit was the part of the good corporate governance.

Similarly, he said one of the country’s top five human resource companies, would be hired to suggest to PCB about the real strength of staff it needs to run the function.

“From the result of that report, we will assess our staff strength for which work begins soon,” he said.

He said the committee also recommended to appoint a Chief Operating Officer in the PCB to give it a corporate sector look.

A professional company would recommend the name of the COO, he said.

He assured the press that regular briefing would be held to inform the nation through media about all the affairs of the PCB.

“Test and one-day cricket are not only the function of the Board, but there are many non-cricketing issues of the board which should be covered by the media,” he said.

He said that an advisory council would also be formed in which cricket experts, past cricketers, and cricket lovers would be included to get their input.

Besides, a complete organizational plan for the PCB for short, medium and long term would also be made, he said.

Asked what would be the role of the city cricket associations under the corporate governance, Dr Nasim said they would be given an effective role and they would had their own academies.

“In the forthcoming constitution, the role of the city associations will be clarified and furthermore we are also developing all 11 regions affiliated with the board and will have their input in the working of the PCB,” he assured.

He said the ad hoc committee took an in-depth briefing from the National Cricket Academy Director Mudassar Nazar, and a policy would be prepared to make the academy more effective.

“We give much importance to the academies because it will produce the talent to the national teams and Mudassar has been instructed to give a detail report about the outcome of the different plans.” said.

The ad hoc committee meeting lasted six hours.