LAHORE, March 22: While refusing permission to pace spearheads Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul to appear in English county circuit, Governing Board of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could not reach a verdict on the disciplinary cases of Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria who are facing charges of the code of conduct breach, at a meeting held here on Saturday.
Talking to reporters, the PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, after presiding over Governing Board’s third meeting here on Saturday, said though, Munir Hafeez, head of the disciplinary committee looking after the discipline cases of Shoaib and Kaneria, made a detailed presentation on cases of the two players at the meeting, the Governing Board members empowered him to decide their fate.
The chairman revealed that Kaneria had already sent his apology to the disciplinary committee.
Shoaib had criticised the PCB for not taking him into confidence before appointing him as Federal Areas captain for the Pentangular Cup besides terming the first-class contest a ‘B’ grade event.
Kaneria had reacted angrily in the media to his relegation from ‘A’ category of the central contract.
Asked as the PCB had already allowed Shoaib to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and what his future would be at the IPL if the disciplinary committee imposed a life ban on him, the chairman said it was premature to say anything, as the board had empowered the committee.
However, there is a report that the PCB may impose a ban on Shoaib, but it would allow him to play in the IPL.
The chairman informed that the Governing Board had also approved the board’s central contract, adding all the players would sign it.
On whether the central contract players who had joined the ICL would be replaced with new players by the board, Dr Nasim said nothing had been discussed in this regard.
On the legal status of the insurance the PCB had bought for the now postponed home series against Australia, the chairman said the PCB was still in negotiations with CA, therefore, he added, it would be seen at an appropriate time.
“The Governing Board members are aware of the insurance details,” he said.
Meanwhile, while the PCB chairman deferred the announcement of the board’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) till Sunday, former first-class cricketer Sultan Rana was appointed as director Domestic Cricket Operations (DCO), a newly introduced post, dividing the cricket operations department into two sections — international and domestic.
“The work in the DCO department had increased considerably and a separate domestic wing was needed, so we appointed Sultan, who has a vast experience of club and domestic cricket,” Dr Nasim stated, adding Sultan, currently working as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) development manager, would be looking after the affairs from club to the regional level.
Zakir Khan, who had been overseeing both international and domestic cricket, would now supervise the international department.
On the English county cricket issue Dr Nasim said the Governing Board had decided to allow cricketers to play county cricket, on case-to-case basis.
“The Governing Board, realising the importance of English County in terms of monetary benefit and experience it gives to cricketers, decided to allow the players to appear there but to avoid injury to key fast bowlers the permission will be granted on case-to-case basis,” he asserted.
“We have permitted Kaneria, Yasir Arafat, and Rao Iftikhar to play county cricket, but Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul are still struggling to regain fitness and would not be allowed to play county cricket,” he affirmed.
He said the meeting also reviewed the performances of Pakistan team, coach and the selection committee in the last six months.
Without disclosing the outcome of the discussion (on performances), he said the strategy for the forthcoming competitions would be based on the outcome of the discussion.
National coach Geoff Lawson and chairman of both senior and junior selection committees — Salahuddin Sallu and Col Naushad Ali — also briefed the Governing Board.