Discipline in domestic cricket, deficit budget, establishment of another four regions, better returns on its investments and construction of the Gaddafi Stadium were the main features of discussion during the recently held meeting of the PCB Governing Board.
The meeting also announced its plan of creating a cricket academy at Larkana and also urged the political parties to keep politics away from cricket. The 23rd meeting of PCB Governing Board was at Naudero, Larkana under the Chairmanship of Zaka Ashraf while Mir Haider Talpur, Aamir Nawab, Ch. M. Anwar, Maj Gilani, Intikhab Alam, Javed Miandad, Subhan Ahmad (COO) and Badar Manzoor (CFO) were the other attendants.
According to an official of the PCB, “The progress of work at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Stadium was discussed in previous BOG meetings and Board members had observations over the slow pace of work. BOG members desired to conduct the meeting at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh so that they can witness the progress of the work personally and take appropriate decisions accordingly. The board members also visited under-construction Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Cricket Stadium to witness the progress. The Board decided to appoint a third-party evaluator, Nayyar Ali Dada, to give their independent view and suggest ways to complete Phase I of plan without any further delay.” He further said that the Annual Budget of PCB for the financial year 2012-13 was presented to the Board and without giving details informed that the budget is a deficit one.
The BOG also decided to bring the domestic cricket under ICC disciplinary requirements like tackling the issues of corruption, anti-doping, schedule of matches and fitness of players at all levels etc. “These rules will be applicable immediately. Under these rules every private party interested in holding a cricket event/tournament on domestic level will need NOC from the PCB. Without the NOC, no PCB registered player will be able to participate in that particular tournament. A Tournament Evaluation Committee comprising Director Cricket Operations International, Director Cricket Operations Domestic and Manager Legal has been formed to look into the applications for such NOC,” he added. He further said: “The BOG acknowledged and supported the creation of four new regions in domestic structure and now the total number of regions will be increased from 11 to 15. One region each will be created in Baluchistan (making it two regions in the province), Sindh Rural (the whole Sindh rural came under the region of Hyderabad so a new region will be created) and Southern Punjab while FATA will be a separate region.”
“The BOG approved the improvements in PCB Treasury Policy in order to get better returns on its investments,” he added. “The Board of Governors lauded the efforts of PCB and its Chairman Ch. Zaka Ashraf in revival of international cricket in Pakistan and assured their full cooperation and support where PCB may need it,” he said.
