April 01, 2007	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 12, 1428

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LAHORE, March 31: A three-member committee has been constituted to evaluate the performance of the Pakistan team in the 2007 World Cup, while some changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have also been made besides suspension of the players' central contracts.

"The committee comprises former Test cricketers Ijaz Butt, Salahuddin Ahmed ‘Sallu’ and Saleem Altaf who will present their report in 30 days," Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf told a press conference here on Saturday.

Pakistan performed badly in the ongoing mega event at the Caribbeans, making stunning exit from its first round after losing to the West Indies and Ireland.

"All the three members of the committee are well reputed and I assure you that an authentic report will be prepared on the debacle that will help us in taking future action," he said.

The chairman lamented that almost all former cricketers who were asked for their input on continuity in the team till the World Cup during national workshop last November, were criticising the board after the poor result.

"I took the charge as PCB chairman only four months before the World Cup and was looking to keep the continuity with the help of ex-players,” recalled Dr Ashraf. “But that has backfired and now I will implement my own plan to resurrect the Pakistan cricket fortunes in order to meet future challenges."

The PCB chief, holding his first media briefing since getting the go-ahead from President Pervez Musharraf to continue, said he had been working tirelessely to salvage the pride of Pakistan cricket over the past few months.

"Even after the loss in World Cup and the subsequent murder of Bob Woolmer, I kept constant contact with team manager Talat Ali and media manager Mir although I had returned to Pakistan by then,” he said. “I was the first person who rang up Woolmer's widow, assuring her of all the help from the board." Dr Ashraf said he resigned at the time because he felt morally bound to accept the responsibility of the defeat in the World Cup.

The chairman disclosed that the players’ contract with the PCB had been suspended forthwith and a new contract had been devised for players. "A new contract with the players, based on their performance will be inked within the next 90 days," he said. The current central contracts were to end on June 30.

About the changes in the team, the chairman said that the next captain, coach and manager would be appointed in the next two months and the coach is likely to be a former Pakistan cricketer. He, however, warned that the days of player-power were over and there would be strict discipline from now on.

He also announced that the new national selection committee would be formed soon and its all of them would be paid members.

"Also, Shafqat Hussain Naghmi (a bureaucrat) will be the new Chief Operating Officer from hereon, while former Test bowler and General Manager Zakir Khan has been elevated to the post of Director Cricket Operations in place of Saleem Altaf who will now be working as Director Technical and Events for the 2011 World Cup," he disclosed.

Pakistan, along with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, will organise the next World Cup.

He said one Hasan Ahmed has been appointed as chief financial officer.

While accepting the importance of a constitution to make the PCB a democratic institution, the chairman however dimissed the impression that the eight-year long ad hocism in the board had destroyed the game in the country. He, however, added that there was no delay on the part of the PCB in implementing the much-awaited constitution. "Soon after getting the approval, I will enforce it forthwith," he said.