LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has no intentions of taking help from former Test captain and pace bowling icon Wasim Akram during the World Cup.
Well-placed sources in the PCB told Dawn that they avoided contacting Wasim though the latter had expressed his desire to lend a helping hand to the Pakistan team, which had lost both of its matches in the current World Cup.
“The PCB listens to Wasim’s statement seriously as it considers advice from all former cricketers. But after a thorough discussion, it was decided that he should not be asked for help as he is busy in his role as a broadcaster,” a PCB official said on the condition of anonymity.
In a recent statement, Wasim had criticised the PCB that no one from the Board had asked him for help though he wanted to help the Pakistan squad.
The official further said the PCB also avoided Wasim because he was too involved in Indian cricket and was also coaching an IPL team.
The former all-rounder had been involved in PCB affairs by PCB’s ex-chairman Zaka Ashraf, who had included him in the coaches finding committee.
Javed Miandad was also a part of that committee which recommendations turned controversial due to a change of command at the PCB as Najam Sethi took over as chairman.
The PCB also avoided Wasim because of Justice Malik Qayyum’s report in which the latter had recommended keeping Wasim away from Pakistan’s captaincy, the official further said.
Published in Dawn February 26th , 2015
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