Zaka Ashraf takes charge of PCB

The newly-appointed Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf finally took charge of his office on Friday.
In his talk to media, he said he wanted to run cricket with advice of former cricketers. Zaka on his arrival was accorded warm welcome by the PCB and the National Cricket Academy officials. Present on the occasion were COO Subhan Ahmed, Javed Miandad, Intikhab Alam and all the officials. He was presented with bouquet while Miandad gave Zaka an application, which is not clear as yet what his demand was.
He was led to his office with proper protocol after reports earlier stated that Zaka is a person who strictly believes in following proper procedure He also put forward his desire to meet former Pakistan captain Imran Khan. Talking to journalists, Zaka said that he wanted to run the game after consulting former cricket.
“I want to develop consensus on how to move forward after meeting with legends,” Ashraf said. “I am a very good listener.”
Ashraf said he needed at least “two to three months” to settle down and study the working of the PCB. PCB COO Subhan briefed Zaka of the PCB affairs and he briefed the media with the same message he was told. “The main issue is of improving the country’s image and bring back the lost glory to Pakistan cricket,” said Zaka. “I wasn’t a banker when I was given the ZTBL duty and now the State Bank has even praised the work done in ZTBL, which is a now a profit making organisation.”
“Only time will tell the improvement the game will make in the days to come. All I need is time to settle in,” he maintained. He said that he will be meeting former greats for seek their advice for improvement in domestic cricket. Zaka said he believed all-rounder Shahid Afridi still has plenty to offer as a one-day player.
“As a Pakistan national and as a cricket viewer I think Afridi is very good one-day player,” Ashraf said. Afridi quit international cricket after developing differences with former PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and former coach Waqar Younis. Afridi made himself available for national selection after Ashraf took over from Butt earlier this month and Waqar stepped down due to personal reasons. Ashraf said he and Afridi will meet soon to discuss the player’s future.
“He has contacted me, but I could say something only after we both meet,” he said. Pakistan are currently playing a Test series against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates and it is likely Afridi’s fate would be decided before the one-day series begins on Nov. 11 in Dubai.