June 10, 2008	Tuesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 05, 1429

LONDON, June 9: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has called for bringing democracy into the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to turn it into a strong institution for the promotion of the game.

Imran, the 1992 World Cup-winning skipper, criticised the current set-up of the board, saying it has been floundering from one crisis to another which has left the cricket lovers confused.

Imran, who played 88 Tests and 175 One-day Internationals for Pakistan, said the cricket cannot progress when the board’s chiefs are imposed and benefit from perks and privileges.

He stated that perhaps the PCB is the only board among the cricketing countries whose head is nominated and not elected. “The status quo has not allowed the system to change for the better,” he said.

One of the game’s best all-rounders, Imran stressed on promoting cricket on regional basis, arguing that none of the cricket-playing countries include departments and organisations as representative teams in domestic tournaments.

He recalled that former West Indies skipper Vivian Richards had noted ample cricketing talent in Pakistan but according to Imran this was not forthcoming due to a faulty domestic structure.—APP