Ijaz Butt’s departure as Pakistan Cricket Board chairman has led to the return of former Test captain Javed Miandad to the PCB offices. Besides, he also visited the national conditioning camp at the Gaddafi stadium to give tips to the players. Miandad made an appearance at the PCB headquarters for the first time since he publicly criticised Butt and his policies and was subsequently issued two notices to explain why he had violated his terms of employment with the board.
Miandad, a veteran of 124 Tests and presently working as Director-General in the PCB, refused to respond to the notices which were lost in the changeover with the government this week appointing Chaudhary Zakar Ashraf as Chairman after Butt completed his three-year term on October 8. “It was a surprise to see Miandad in Lahore at the conditioning camp because for the last few weeks he has avoided any contact with the board,” one source in the board said.
Another board official who didn’t want to be named said Miandad’s appearance was not surprising at all. “His relations with the outgoing Chairman were very tense and now that Butt has gone he wants to get back into the thick of action hoping to be promoted to the post of chief operating officer or to get more authority and responsibilities from the new board head,” the official said.
Miandad’s appearance on the last day of the short conditioning camp proved to be beneficial for the players who got tips from him for their coming series against Sri Lanka in the UAE.
Even during the last days of Butt’s tenure Miandad had been invited to become a permanent batting consultant with the national team but the former great had turned down the offer.
