LAHORE: Newly-elected Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar M Khan on Wednesday said each department of the PCB would be strengthened, based on professionalism, specialisation and integrity.
“Merit-based selection of players at every level and continuity of the reform process will be ensured and serious efforts shall be made to revive international cricket in Pakistan,” he said while presiding over a meeting of PCB’s board of directors here at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The meeting was attended by COO Subhan Ahmad, CFO Badar M. Khan, Director Media Coordination Amjad Hussain, Director Cricket Operations (Domestic) Intikhab Alam, Director Cricket Operations (International) Zakir Khan, Director HR & Administration retired Brig. Sajid Hameed, Director Marketing Syed Badar Refaie, Director Game Development Haroon Rashid and Acting Director Security & Vigilance retired Col Mohammad Azam Khan.
Outlining a broad framework for PCB, Shaharyar stressed the need to develop cricket at school level and expressed concern over lack of cricket fields in majority of schools across the country. He said he would take up the matter with the government for a policy decision to make it mandatory for every school to have sports grounds.
Shaharyar further asked Intikhab Alam, Director Cricket Operations (Domestic), to devise a plan for strengthening school cricket based on international model. “There is a dire need to have coaching facility for the youth, especially of 14-18 years old,” he added and advised Intikhab to make arrangements accordingly.
On the issue of return of international cricket to Pakistan, the PCB chairman said steps should be taken to arrange visits of ‘A’ and U-19 teams of Australia, New Zealand and other countries. He urged the PCB management to ensure zero tolerance against illegal betting and match-fixing as per the new constitution.
Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014