LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a three-member committee to investigate alleged corrupt practices, which have been rendered during the last 15 years at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

The committee includes retired Col Khalid, retired Col Ashfaq Ahmad and Daniyal, a person from the PCB legal department.

It seems the incumbent PCB management is not satisfied with the working of the NCA and there are doubts that corrupt practices were rendered in various functions of the NCA in which its key officials were involved.

The NCA, which since its inauguration in 2004 has enjoyed a high-level status, has been working independently. While keeping in mind that several coaches, doctors and trainers joined and left the NCA during the past 15 years, the probe committee in all probability faces an uphill task.

Two changes in the recent past were noticed at the NCA; first its senior general manager academies Ali Zia stepped down on Dec 6 after remaining at this position for 12 years. Just a few days later, former Test cricketer Mudassar Nazar decided not to seek extension as NCA director after completing his ongoing contract which expires at the end of May 2020.

According to some reports, the PCB may hire an Englishman to run the NCA as director.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2019