The Pakistan Cricket Board has directed new team manager Naveed Akram Cheema to be vigilant and alert in maintaining discipline within the team ranks.
The direction came in wake of previous infightings, intrigues and match-fixing sagas that tarnished the image of cricket and the country alike. Cheema would have discipline as the top most responsibility during the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe.
“There will be no compromise on discipline at all and the board has made it clear that they are right behind the management in enforcing discipline and the code of conduct,” Cheema, who has replaced the Intikhab Alam as the manager of the team, said.
PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said: “Intikhab Alam has done a commendable job as national team manager. His experience as a cricketer and as a cricket administrator is always a great help. Being Director Game Development he is needed in Pakistan to execute game development plans. As we announce the team management on tour-to-tour basis so for Zimbabwe tour, Mr. Naveed Akram Cheema is entrusted with this responsibility.”
Intikhab Alam said: “I am thankful to PCB management for trusting me with responsibilities of team manager in the past. At the moment my focus is the player development programs. We have started Academies program in the country which many upcoming players are attending. U16 talent-hunt program is underway in more than 45 districts throughout Pakistan and we are working on some more programs for the winter. While I have enjoyed working as Team Manager, I feel that I require to dedicate more time for the Academies program which we have started after a gap of some years. I wish my successor Naveed all the best in his new assignment”, he said.
Cheema said: “I am grateful for the confidence reposed in me by the PCB. I will be seeking advice from my predecessor Mr. Intikhab Alam, who is also a dear friend. Our collective aim is to ensure that the team do well on the tour and that there is harmony and unity amongst the squad members. I will try to live up to the expectations of the Board.” Cheema, an experienced bureaucrat, said he was confident of managing the team well and ensuring there is no compromise on discipline. “It’s a tough job but it’s not impossible to achieve success,” he said. “Problems do exist but if the players are aware that there will be an instant action against them for any wrongdoings, they will avoid such acts,” he said.
Cheema, a member of the PCB’s governing board, has been appointed manager for only the Zimbabwe series but indications are that the board Chairman Ijaz Butt has enough confidence in him to retain him for future tours. A PCB official said one of the main tasks entrusted upon Cheema was to ensure harmony and proper communication between the tour selection committee members including the captain, vice-captain and coach on foreign tours.
“The manager, who is also the head of the tour selection committee, has to ensure there are no issues at all between the team members,” the official said.
A dispute between former captain Shahid Afridi and head coach Waqar Younis on selection matters during the West Indies tour eventually led Afridi retiring from international cricket and the board appointing a new captain. A reliable source said that Cheema had been told to make sure that the captain and coach worked in their domain and didn’t interfere in each other’s work.
“The board has got complaints about Waqar’s attitude and wants a close watch on him,” the source said. Cheema, who was the manager of the Pakistan ‘A’ side on the tour of the West Indies last year, has also been asked to ensure that the national team stays clear of any controversies in their coming series.
The PCB Chairman is also expected to have discussions with the team management, including the captain before the team leaves for Zimbabwe.
The Pakistan team will leave for Zimbabwe on August 26 to play one test match, three ODIs and two, T-20 games. The tour will open with a practice game on August 28 against Zimbabwe XI at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo. Pakistan will play their only test at Queens Sports Club from Sep 1-5.
In Bulawayo on Sep 8 the team plays 1st ODI at Queens Park. 2nd ODI will be at Harare Sports Club on Sep 11 and Sep 14, the 3rd ODI at Harare Sports club. The 1st T-20 will be played on Sep 16 at Harare Sports club and on Sep 18, second T-20 will be played at Harare Sports club.
The PCB also announced the following team management for the upcoming Zimbabwe tour:
Naveed Akram Cheema (Manager), Waqar Younis (Coach), Col (R) Wasim Ahmed (Security & Assistant Manager), Dr. Sohail Saleem (Doctor cum Physio), Saboor Ahmed (Trainer), Umer Farooq (Analyst), Muhammad Akhtar (Masseur).