LAHORE, Aug 16: Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi, while confirming receipt of Imran Farhat’s letter for release from the central contract, said he was disappointed by the opener’s statement regarding PCB forcing players in signing the same.

“The PCB cannot force any player to sign contracts and it is entirely their own decision to sign or choose otherwise,” said Naghmi. He also ruled out any action against Imran for his move.

When contacted by Dawn, Imran said that the letter prepared by his lawyer only requested the board to release him from the central contract and he had not accused anyone of forcing him or others for it. “My only objection is that the PCB got the players’ signatures without producing before them the full contract on Aug 4. There was only one paper with some terms relating to discipline but nothing informing us of the incentives. We received the full central contract only on Aug 13,” he clarified.

Meanwhile, Naghmi reiterated the PCB stance of imposing life bans on the players opting for the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL).

However, he hinted a slight change in the earlier decision by saying that the PCB ad hoc committee will look at it shortly.

“So far we are sticking to the policy of imposing life ban on those who play for the ICL,” said Naghmi. “But the case will be put before the PCB ad hoc committee which is empowered to make changes to this decision.”

Regarding the four players — Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Danish Kaneria and Abdul Razzaq — not signing the central contract despite the passage of Aug 15 PCB deadline, the COO informed that leg-spinner Kaneria had already signed the contract while Younis had sought more time to discuss it with his lawyer. Yousuf, he added, was currently in Dir on a preaching tour and had totally forgotten about the deadline.

Naghmi was hopeful that Yousuf would finally sign the central contract but admitted that the board had been unable to make any contact with Razzaq on this issue.

He added that the PCB had not fixed a new deadline which will allow the players to sign the contract as soon as they can. “We can either spoil the careers of these players for not signing the central contract till the deadline or can give them more time. If any of them is not ready to sign it, then the ‘no’ should come from them and not from us,” he said.

The COO further said that the PCB had decided to call Yousuf to the training camp in Lahore starting from Aug 21 for the Twenty-20 World Cup in South Africa. “Although Yousuf is not a part of the team, we have also invited him to meet the newly appointed Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson.

Naghmi also informed that a two-member appellate tribunal of Mueen Afzal and Imtiaz Ahmed would hear the appeal of Shoaib Akhtar on Aug 18 against a fine of Rs300,000 imposed for his alleged misconduct at the national training camp in Karachi and for not appearing before the committee following a 24-hour notice.