NEW DELHI, Oct 18: Describing Ijaz Butt’s two-year tenure at the helm of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a complete failure, former captain Wasim Akram has ridiculed the PCB chief for seeking another term.

“If Ijaz Butt has asked for another term, then hats off to him,” remarked Wasim sarcastically. “The whole of Pakistan and world cricket is after him. Pakistan cricket is in a mess, there is no leadership and amidst all this, to ask for another term, well what can I say. This shows that his advisors are not giving him the right directions,” Wasim said.

“Ijaz has been unable to hold fort. He is not a man in command. There is no leadership and that’s why Pakistan cricket is reeling under nasty controversies. It was the chairman’s role to keep all these things under check but he has failed miserably,” said the former all-rounder.

The PCB chief’s current tenure, which ends on Oct 31, has been marred by a series of ugly controversies. The harrowing terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in Lahore, Pakistan’s ouster as co-hosts of 2011 World Cup, Mohammad Asif drug row in Dubai, the recent spot-fixing scandal and many other such horrible incidents have damaged Pakistan cricket like never before. Ijaz Butt and his cronies have earned the wrath of public as well as the former cricketers and officials for their misdeeds but, unfortunately, the govt is yet to take them to task for that.

Wasim was also critical of the selection panel for not consulting coach Waqar Younis while picking the team for the forthcoming series against South Africa in the UAE.

“I strongly believe that the presence of the captain and coach is a must in the process of team selection. It’s fine that it is a selectors’ job, but again it is a team game. If you keep fighting amongst yourselves then where is the leadership? The ball once again is in the PCB chief’s court and he should take care of these issues,” said the former captain.

Wasim added that said only the players could lift Pakistan cricket by performing well against South Africa in the upcoming series.

“Pakistan can beat anybody in Twenty20, but the one-dayers and Tests will be a different ball game. Even if Pakistan wins a match or two South Africa can always come back, they are always a difficult side. Wherever the Proteas play, they are a tough side to beat but I believe the series will be a close affair,” concluded Wasim.—Agencies