KARACHI, April 2: The Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) on Monday demanded of the Pakistan Cricket Board to restore participation of associations in the affairs of cricket board.

In a strong-worded press release, Prof Sirajul Islam Bukhari, the KCCA long-serving secretary, said: “I’m surprised that Dr Nasim Ashraf, chairman of PCB ad hoc committee, has given no relief to the cricket associations of the country in his press conference the other day.

“The same set of paid and tried officials in the PCB – except Shafqat Hussain Naghmi – have only been reshuffled, confirming that the advisors of present PCB hierarchy are not interested in giving any role to the associations in the administration of cricket in Pakistan.

“This policy of PCB contradicts the policy of President Pervez Musharraf who has devolved powers to the public representatives at district and Tehsil level.

“The development of cricket at grassroots level is the responsibility of associations and if associations are continued to be ignored the future of Pakistan cricket is bound to be gloomy and the nation will continue to undergo the same agony as faced after the World Cup debacle.

“This attitude will therefore be suicidal for Pakistan cricket if the rights of associations are continued to be usurped,” he added.

Prof Bukhari urged the PCB chief to take the associations to confidence and restore general body and executive council the cricket set-up.

“I make a fervent appeal to the PCB chairman to take the associations into confidence and restore the administration of cricket to the General Body and Executive Council of the PCB,” he said.