October 08, 2008	Wednesday	Shawwal 08, 1429

LAHORE, Oct 7: The new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt vows his top priority will be to run all the affairs in a transparent manner to restore the image of the board.Ijaz, a former Test wicket-keeper/batsman, said though he would give a statement in detail after the issuance of the notification, expected on Wednesday, said the board needs an effective and proper system to run without controversies in the affairs of finance and team selection.

“I will try my level best to run the PCB with transparency,” he said.

Meanwhile, various former Test players also hailed Ijaz’s appointment and expressed the hope that he, with his vast experience as administrator, former secretary of the PCB (then known as BCCP) and chief selector, would succeed to bring the national cricket back on the right path.

Former captain Intikhab Alam, said the patron of the PCB, President Asif Ali Zardari, took a wise decision by appointing Ijaz as the new chairman.

“Ijaz knows cricket well and also possessed business acumen,” Intikhab said, adding it was the demand of several Test cricketers that the new chairman should be a Test player.

“Ijaz’s skill as a successful businessman would be beneficial for national cricket which has become a commercial product. I think that his appointment is the right step in the right direction”, Intikhab stated.

He added that he had known Ijaz since 1958 and had been with him on tours of India (1960) and England (1962).

“I always found him a decent person who was never involved in any controversy,” Intikhab said.

Former Test batsman Mohammad Ilyas hoped that the new chairman would take all the cricketers into confidence to run the PCB more professionally.

He further said Ijaz is an honest man and during his tenure the funds would be in safe hands.

Sarfraz Nawaz said in the present circumstances Ijaz was the best choice, adding he was also able to clean the mess of previous management, headed by Dr Nasim Ashraf.

“Ijaz has the abilities to streamline the cricket affairs,” Sarfraz said.

Ex-chief Test captain and chief selector Aamir Sohail expressed that Ijaz possessed all the credentials that the chairman of the PCB should have in the present circumstances.

“It is a good decision. Ijaz understands cricket well and his integrity is beyond any doubt.

“The mess in the PCB is very thick but I hope that Ijaz is capable of doing away with this mess,” Aamir said.

Former PCB chairman Lt Gen (retired) Tauqir Zia also hailed the decision and said Ijaz was capable of running the PCB fairly. Hopefully, there would be no further consecutive controversies in the future, which had ruined the image of the board in the past, he hoped.