Heads might roll in the Pakistan Cricket Board after Zaka Ashraf assumed charge as the new chairman. Well-placed sources are being quoted as saying that there were clear indications that Zaka would not only be firing some senior officials but also would be making other changes. It has also been learnt that the new chairman is not happy with the working style of some of the top officials and for that he is surely be going to bring in new faces.
“There is a big chance that he will have a new chief operating officer while the existing CCO, Subhan Ahmad, will be entrusted the task of heading the international wing of the board as the new Chairman is keen to start lobbying to bring back international cricket to Pakistan,” reports said.
Sources said the new chairman wanted the international wing to function effectively and productively and was expected to give this responsibility to Subhan due to his experience of dealing with the ICC and other boards.
“Former Test players, Saleem Altaf and Majid Khan are in the run to be given the job of COO although former test captain, Zaheer Abbas is making serious efforts to get the coveted post,” another source said.
He said Zaka personally was more inclined towards having either Altaf who served as COO under former chairmen, Naseem Ashraf and Ijaz Butt, or Majid as his deputy. “Zaheer has been using his contacts in Bilawal House to convince President Asif Zardari to give him the job of COO,” the source added. The source also confirmed that former Test captain, Intikhab Alam who held several positions including that of manager and coach under Butt and is presently head of the national cricket academy was expected to get the axe. “Intikhab will go because Zaka Ashraf believes there is need to induct fresh blood into the administration of the national cricket academy and he also believes that Intiab has served his time with Pakistan cricket,” the source disclosed.
Zaka warns players to refrain from bickering: Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) new chairman Zaka Ashraf has said that he would not tolerate any indiscipline or bickering in the team.
Zaka said he was informed that some players indulge in-fighting and groupism. “I have been told about this and if this is true then we will take steps to sort out the problem as there is going to be no compromise on discipline,” Ashraf said on a private television channel.
“I will be revisiting the code of conduct yet again to ensure there are no gray areas and the players and board know their roles clearly as well as their responsibilities,” he said. The new PCB chief also made it clear that he will deal with an iron hand with players who bring bad name to Pakistan cricket. Pakistan’s image has taken a beating in the last two years because of the involvement of some players in not only spot-fixing but also in unethical practices.
