Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Zaka Ashraf made it clear Thursday that he wanted the International Cricket Council to take the PCB on board in any kind of inquiry it holds on the issue of spot-fixing.
Talking to journalists here at the National Cricket Academy before meeting the regional cricket officials, Zaka made it clear that the PCB will not be an onlooker in any kind of inquiry held by the ICC against any of its cricketers.
“The spot-fixers have been proven guilty and the PCB was asked not to intervene in any of the inquiries but now we would want to be part of the inquiry if there is any,” he added.
“It was very unfortunate for the families of the jailed cricketers. “They had a lot of cricket in them had they stayed clean. I have sympathies for their families. If the ICC is involving any more cricketers like Kamran Akmal or Wahab Riaz or any other, then the PCB would also like to be part of the inquiry. The ICC must involve us in their findings,” he said.
To a question, he said the Shahid Afridi may have issues with the former chairman Ijaz Butt but he believes that Afridi is still a good players of ODIs and T20s and should be part of the team.
“I discussed his availability with the selection committee and moved ahead with their instructions. Look I am heading the PCB and everyone is assigned some duty and I supervise them and see everything is being done in a proper way,” he added.
He pointed out that right now return of international cricket to Pakistan is the main issue for him to handle.
“I have written letters to all the Test playing countries and will also be attending the ICC meeting where I will meet the officials of all the cricket playing nations and discuss with them the prospects of holding series in Pakistan and hope there will be positive response,” he added.
“I will also raise the issue of spot-fixing with the ICC and explain the PCB’s point of view,” he added. Later, the chairman met all the regional presidents in his first interaction with the PCB’s cricket wings in the country.
Shakil Shaikh (President Regional Cricket Association Islamabad), Major (R) Syed Naeem Akhtar Gilani (President Regional Cricket Association Rawalpindi), Mr. Aamir Nawab Khan (President Regional Cricket Association Faisalabad), Mr. Malik Zulfiqar (President Regional Cricket Association Sialkot), Kh. Nadeem Ahmad (President Lahore City Cricket Association), Prof. S. Sirajul Islam Bukhari (President-Karachi City Cricket Association), Mr. Wisal Muhammad Durrani (President Regional Cricket Association Peshawar), Mr. Mir Haider Ali Khan Talpur (President Regional Cricket Association Hyderabad), Ch. Muhammad Anwar (President Regional Cricket Association Faisalabad), Prof. Inam Elahi Farooqi (Chairman Interim Committee-Multan Region) Participated.
Mr. Tariq Baloch (President Regional Cricket Association Quetta) could not attend the meeting as he was not in Pakistan. The chairman welcomed the Regional Presidents and asked for their suggestions on development and promotion of cricket in the country. Every regional president gave detailed input on cricket development, infrastructure development and promotion of cricket on grass root level. They also briefed the Chairman about the issues faced by their respective regions.
The chairman promised to look into the issued encountered by them and assured full support to the PCB. The chairman also promised to visit each region in near future.
