July 15, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 11, 1429

LAHORE, July 14: The constant absence of Pakistan Cricket Board’s media director at the time of crisis situations has hampered the media personnel in their bid to know about the factual position recently.

Mansoor Suhail, a seasoned government officer working in the PCB on deputation and dealing with the media, has been conspicuous by his absence during all major occasions. He was also not present in the PCB offices on Monday when the news of Mohammad Asif’s positive dope test surfaced.

A large number of reporters were already present at the Gaddafi Stadium to cover a scheduled meeting between the national selection committee and the PCB officials over the list of 30 probables for the ICC Champions Trophy when the news about Asif arrived.

However, no authoritative person from the PCB was present to brief the media over the situation. The reporters were compelled to inquire PCB media manager Raza Rashid but he could not say much since he has no authority to give statement over an issue like one of Asif’s doping.

Mansoor, since his appointment, has only been coming to office at 5:00pm on the pretext that he has to attend classes of an official course.

After groping in the dark, the reporters then decided to contact the only available competent authority in Zakir Khan (Director Cricket Operations International), who asked the reporters to wait for five minutes before coming out to make the announcement about Asif’s case.