Nothing changes at PCB

Not for the better, at least

It turns out, sadly, that the recent burnout at the Asia Cup was not the lowest that Pakistani cricket would descend to ahead of the T20 World Cup. Issues concerning the team’s security in India have grabbed international headlines, but back home other matters – far less related to cricket itself – occupy PCB’s big guns at the moment. One fresh and fierce controversy that has arisen out of nowhere concerns the appointment of a certain Shakil Sheikh to head the Board’s inquiry committee.

Some have accused the ShahyarKhan-Najam Sethi duo – which has little experience when it comes to cricket – of appointing an equally inexperienced person to head the committee. Former captain Wasim Akram, in particular, has been openly critical. And, interestingly, Sheikh in turn proved his credentials by threatening to reopen old betting files that concerned Wasim and adding, for good measure, that once Clive Lloyd appreciated his batting in some “good level match at F-9 park”. The picture is not much rosier within the team either. T20 captain Afridi, who continues despite a prolonged bad patch, was not pleased when there was talk of reintroducing Salman Butt into the squad on the same lines as Mohammad Amir.

Not many issues simmering in the cricketing fraternity, it seems, have much to do with the game itself; at least not the team’s performance. With the squad’s departure still not certain, and security in India always a concern, and precious little attention paid to the team itself in the Board’s affairs, it is not fair to attach high hopes with the outfit’s performance. These problems have worsened since people alien to cricket as well as management have been placed at the top of the Board. And unless this crisis forces a change at the top – rather than have the problems itself undertake the reshuffling – not much will change in Pakistani cricket.