LAHORE: While signalling that Misbah-ul-Haq may remain national captain until at least the 2015 World Cup, PCB’s interim management committee chairman Najam Sethi has defended his decision of interviewing the skipper on a private TV channel, for which he also works as anchor person.

“PCB chairman Najam Sethi reiterates that Misbah-ul-Haq enjoys his full confidence and should continue to be captain until at least the 2015 World Cup,” stated a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) press release issued to Dawn on Wednesday.

The press release was issued in response to a recent Dawn report in which both former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and former Test cricketer Mohammad Ilyas criticised Sethi for interviewing Pakistan captain in the media.

Last Saturday, Sethi surprised everyone as he appeared in his TV programme on a private TV channel along with Misbah, asking national captain questions as journalist.

The move was widely criticised in cricket circles as everyone believes the same questions could have been asked in a one-on-one meeting between the two. And later, as PCB chairman, Sethi should have defended Misbah at all front, since it was his decision whether or not to retain him captain for Pakistan’s ongoing tour to South Africa in the backdrop of the team’s dismal performance in the last series against same country in the UAE.

In another TV programme of the same TV channel, president of the Islamabad Cricket Association Shakil Sheikh called Misbah ‘jackal’ but it is surprising that so far the PCB has not sought an explanation from the ICA chief over his controversial remarks about Pakistan captain. It is to be noticed that the PCB rules prohibit its all affiliated members not to talk with media over any controversial issue.

In his statement, Ilyas alleged that Misbah was called ‘jackal’ with the consent of the PCB. On Tuesday, like many others relating to the game, Ijaz Butt and Ilyas also criticised the decision of Misbah’s grilling by the PCB head in a media programme.

However, while ignoring the criticism from all other quarters, the PCB expressed its concern about Dawn’s story and issued a statement.

The PCB statement read: “With reference to your story titled ‘Ijaz slams Sethi’s grilling of Misbah on TV show’ in the issue of your paper of Nov 19, 2013, it is surprising that all persons [Ijaz Butt, Ilyas and the reporter] failed to understand importance of the discussion between Misbah-ul-Haq and PCB chairman on TV last Saturday.

“Since Misbah was under attack from various quarters, PCB chairman and Misbah jointly decided to let Misbah confront his critics’ views in a controlled and non-antagonistic environment because they both felt that Misbah had solid answers to give in the public interest.

“Under the circumstances, Misbah was asked all the hard questions raised by his critics, and was allowed to answer freely without any follow-up questions on the same issue. The discussion was clearly aimed at strengthening Misbah rather than eroding him especially since PCB chairman had earlier said in public that Misbah would remain captain until at least the World Cup in 2015 and had never contradicted himself or reversed his position,” the PCB statement added.

“What is sadly shocking in the story, however, is the remarks made by a former chairman [Ijaz Butt], and a former cricketer [Ilyas] who have both also failed to comprehend the aim of the interview and needlessly jumped the gun. By all accounts, the public has received Misbah’s defence as given in the said TV discussion well, and proved that he is the best man for the job on hand.

“PCB chairman Najam Sethi reiterates that Misbah-ul-Haq enjoys his full confidence and should continue to be captain until at least the World Cup in 2015.

“This final statement should end all speculations in this matter in the larger interest of the game,” the Board statement concluded.

Interestingly, Sethi, despite being a senior journalist, has mentioned that the reporter also failed to understand the importance of the discussion over TV.

As journalist, one believes, Sethi knows it well that the reporter is always bound to report the views of anyone.Earlier, Sethi also surprised everyone by announcing that he will carry on his career in journalism while performing his duties as PCB chairman — ignoring the fact that it is a major case of conflict of interests.