April 14, 2007	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1428

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LAHORE, April 13: Pakistan Cricket Board's patron President Gen. Pervez Musharraf is determined to abolish the prevalent ad hoc system in the board and there would be no delay once the federal law department approves the draft of the new constitution.

This was stated by PCB chairman, Dr Nasim Ashraf on Friday in an exclusive chat with Dawn after he called upon the president in the morning in which the patron showed “much interest in the implementation of constitution in PCB.”

"The president is very much interested in implementing the constitution and the President's Secretariat is in touch with the federal law department on this issue," the chairman said. "I know the critics are blaming the board on delay in implementing the constitution, but I really donot know how to assure them about my keenness to put an end to the ad hoc system.”

He said the federal law department was busy tackling the chief justice saga but it is hoped that a draft of constitution will be sent back to the patron for final approval soon.

The PCB is being run on ad hoc basis since 1999 and the critics and city cricket associations believe the game has hit its lowest ebb during this era after Pakistan failed to make the Super Six stage in 2003 World Cup and knocked out in the first round in 2007 mega event.

The chairman said he apprised the patron about the latest developments in the board in the wake of the World Cup's debacle. It was his first meeting with the patron since he tendered his resignation to him after the World Cup loss last month.The PCB chairman said the patron also stressed on maintaining discipline in the PCB at all costs.

"Discipline should be implemented at all cost among the players and in the board and there must be no compromise on it," the PCB chairman said while quoting the president.

Expressing his astonishment at Younis Khan’s refusal to accept the captaincy, Dr Nasim said: "I don't know about Younis' decision as yet so I can't comment on it. Moreoever, we have been considering different options and our priority is to search for a long-term captain but initially we will appoint the leader on a series-to-series basis," he said.

The PCB chief disclosed that board was about to finalise the names of the new selection committee. "The list of expected selectors has been shortlisted and the PCB is about to finalise their names," he said.He said a physical conditioning camp would be held in Abbottabad in which top 30 players of the country would appear and those not attending the camp will not find a place in national team.

"The camp is mandatory for all the cricketers to get back in the groove and it will help them overcome the World Cup disaster as well,” he said.

A three-match series against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi was likely to be finalised and that would also help the cricketers to come back on track, he added.