LAHORE, April 14: Prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf will appear before the World Cup's Performance Evaluation Committee (PEC) on Wednesday while former chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shaharyar M Khan will again be asked to record his statement.

The PEC chairman Ijaz Butt told Dawn that Yousuf had confirmed his appearance before the committee which would resume working from Wednesday after ending two-day session in Karachi on Friday.The PEC chairman said he met PCB chairman Dr. Nasim Ashraf on Saturday and asked him to make possible the appearance of former PCB chairman Shaharyar M Khan before the committee.

"Shaharyar is one of the main witnesses of the World Cup preparations and his statement is very important for the committee,” said Ijaz. “Therefore, I have asked the chairman to ensure his appearance."

But while the PEC chairman is on record to say that Shaharyar was keen to know about the kind of questions the committee would put to him and wanted the current PCB chairman to invite him personally, the seasoned diplomate denied any such thing.

In a letter to the PEC which was also released to the press, Shaharyar said: "Some incorrect news reports have appeared in the media regarding my attending the Probe Committee's inquiry on the World Cup,” said Shahrayar.

“The facts are clarified as follows: a)I have not declined to give my views to the Probe Committee. In fact, I have sent to Mr. Ijaz Butt, PEC chairman, my written opinion relating to the team's failure. There is no question of my not wishing to cooperate with the Committee. (b) I had been requested to appear before the Committee on Wednesday April 11, 2007. I informed the PCB that I have to deliver a lecture at LUMS on Wednesdays and therefore was not available on that day. (c) I do have reservations of principle and not of personality on the composition of the Probe Committee due to the presence on it of the former Director Cricket Operations (Saleem Altaf).

He adds: “The role of PCB is crucial in addressing this issue and rather than posing the questions, the Director should have been answering them like the Captain, Manager, Players and Coaches. I feel the composition of the Committee would lead to a lack of objectivity and credibility in the reports assessment of PCB cricket operation's important role.”

Ijaz Butt, when asked about the letter, said he did not receive any written document from Shaharyar and it would be better for Pakistan cricket if the former PCB head appeared before the PEC.

The PEC has to announce its report in 30 days after being established by the PCB on April 1.