April 04, 2008	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 3: Imran Khan called on Thursday on the new Pakistani government to disband the country’s cricket board after it banned fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for five years.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday banned Shoaib for repeatedly breaching the players’ code of conduct, culminating in a public outburst in January against the board for not giving him a central contract.

“The tragic incident of banning Shoaib reflects how undemocratically cricket is run in this country and I think this is an ideal time for the new government to fix it,” Imran, a legend and veteran of 88 Tests, said.

The PCB’s patron is President Pervez Musharraf, who is also responsible for selecting the chief of the board, currently Dr Nasim Ashraf.

“Pakistan cricket is unique in the sense that the president of the country appoints the cricket chief. Since there is legitimacy in other countries they don’t have such problems,” he added.

“The cricket chief is involved in everything from selection to touring, but since he has no legitimacy he cannot solve problems. So I demand the new government install a democratically-elected cricket chief as soon as possible”.

Shoaib was hauled up before a PCB disciplinary committee for criticising its policies following his removal from a list of 15 players awarded central contracts in January this year, the latest in a string of discipline problems.

Imran thought the ban was unjust.

“Tell me how many players in world cricket have been banned for five years on indiscipline charges,” Imran asked. “Previous incidents of indiscipline should have been dealt with at the time instead of being allowed to accumulate.”

Meanwhile, Younis Khan called for a compromise to end the spiralling row between the cricket board and Shoaib.

“I think the matter has gone too far. This whole issue is damaging for Pakistan cricket so I hope that a compromise is reached,” said Younis.

“Of course he (Shoaib) is my friend, my senior and I have played alongside him for years, so my sympathies are with him,” Younis told reporters in Karachi.

“I think the player (Shoaib) must think about his problems and the board must talk to him and solve this matter.”—AFP