Director General of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Javed Miandad, has expressed that Zaka Ashraf has a clear vision for the betterment of the sport in the country. The former Pakistan captain also denied any rift with the ex-chairman of the board, Ijaz Butt.
Javed did not got along too well with the ex-chairman during the later stages of his tenure and openly criticised the policies of the board, despite being employed by the PCB. A number of scandals arose during the previous cricket chief’s era, including the spot-fixing controversy, which did not have a positive effect on Pakistan’s reputation in international cricket.
The former middle-order batsman however, expressed that he still respects the ex-chairman, despite having difference of opinion with him on the sporting issues.
The Director General was all praise for the current chairman and believes that Ashraf has been doing a splendid job for the game, which is madly followed all across the country.
“I respect Ijaz Butt as an elder. I may have cricket related differences with him but that does not mean I have any enmity with him,” Javed expressed. “As far as Zaka Ashraf is concerned he has clear vision and wants to do something for Pakistan cricket.”
There have been some rumours about Javed’s lucrative salary in the national media, with the former cricketer being criticised for his selfish approach. Javed however, claims that he declined attractive coaching offers from different parts of the globe just to serve the country.
”I am committing no crime. I had got more lucrative offers to coach but I didn’t accept them because I want to work in Pakistan cricket and contribute towards it. The figures quoted about the financial benefits I get in the board are not correct,” he clarified.
The 55-year-old former player from Karachi is arguably the best batsman produced by Pakistan, having scored more than 16 thousand runs in international cricket, in the 124 Tests and 233 One Day Internationals he represented his country in. Javed averaged 52.57 and 41.70 runs per innings in Tests and the 50-over format respectively, which are amazing stats for a middle-order batsman.
