October 13, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 30, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 12: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, reposing full confidence in skipper Shoaib Malik despite the Test series loss against South Africa, said the Sialkot-born all-rounder will be retained as captain of the Pakistan team for another year when his current term expires on Dec 31.

Addressing a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium soon after the drawn second Test, the chairman said in the past the PCB had been appointing a captain on series-to-series basis, but it will be done on annual basis from now on.

“Shoaib has done a good job and he would be retained as skipper for a second term starting Jan 1,” said Dr Nasim.

Backing the current Pakistan team in strong, encouraging words of praise, the PCB chief said that the young side had tremendous potential and could well become one of the leading teams in the world under Malik’s dashing leadership.

On another front, the board chairman disclosed that seven of Pakistan cricketers have been offered contract by the Indian Premier League including Shoaib Malik, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.

“Seven of our players have been offered contracts by the IPL through us and we will be happy if all of them join the league which is a recognised, legal competition compared to the rebel and illegal Indian Cricket League (ICL) which is not an ICC-approved event,” he said.

He said the contract would be offered to all the seven players and it was up to them to sign or reject it.

Asked if he would also offer all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and opener Imran Farhat to rejoin Pakistan cricket, the chairman said he had personally made efforts to convince both the players and asked them to reconsider their decisions of joining the ICL but in vain.

“I spoke twice to Imran to withdraw from the ICL as the PCB assured him that he will be considered for the Test series against South Africa but he stuck to his earlier decision.”

He added that Razzaq’s decision of joining the ICL was an immature move on his part.

The chairman was all praise for the national selection committee, saying it was working independently and taking all the decision in the best interest of Pakistan cricket.

Commenting on the recent court case by controversial Australian umpire Darrell Hair against the ICC, Dr Ashraf said that though Hair had withdrawn his case, the PCB feels he is unfit to supervise international matches.

“It is too premature to expect that Hair can make a comeback to international cricket after completing the rehabilitation at the ICC level. Our stance is that he is not fit to supervise matches,” he said.

“We believe that ICC has taken a wise decision to put him on rehabilitation before deciding his fate as umpire in near future.”