May 06, 2007	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1428

LAHORE, May 5: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been empowered to sack any employee at any time according to the new contracts offered to its staff. The PCB has cancelled all the previous terms and conditions of employment in the board by implementing new service rules and offered all staff members a fresh set of contracts.

According to details, all board employees have been informed that though they will continue to get provident fund and few other facilities during their service, their contracts may be cancelled at any point after evaluation of their performances.

When contacted, PCB’s chief operating officer, Shafqat Naghmi told Dawn that the decision had been taken to bring all staff in one category. "There will be no regular staff from now on and those working on regular basis will also receive exactly the same contract," he said.

Asked if the staff had accepted the new contract, the COO said he called a meeting of the staff on Friday and asked them to state their objections openly but no one came forward. "May be they are not ready to speak in the meeting but I would welcome their views on the contract if any," he said.

He added that there was no specific period of contract mentioned in the letters. It will continue till the satisfactory report about the working of the staff member. He said Director Cricket Operations Zakir Khan, who was also on regular basis received the same contract. He said Director marketing Dr Ahsan Hameed Malik's previous contract is due to expire on May 11 and a decision on him would also be taken after the expiry date.

There are reports that regular staff have expressed some reservations over the decision and are of the view that it may jeopardize their long-term services with the board.