Introvert
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2006
- Messages
- 1,056
- Reaction score
- 3
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf has hinted at an overhaul in 2013 as part of an attempt to make Pakistan the best team across all formats of the game. Pakistan have had a fairly good year, with the 3-0 Test sweep of England being the highlight, but Ashraf said discipline and a focus on youth would take the team to the next level. He has also pledged a reform of the PCB administration, saying the problem with Pakistan cricket is not in the system or in its constitution but in the people who are in charge. He says he will work to ensure the PCB would fall in line with the International Cricket Councils (ICC) decision that all member boards should have free elections and be free from political intervention.
Pakistan cricket has been riddled with infighting, indiscipline and clashes between players and the board over the last few years. Ashraf says he didnt want to rake up the past but is confident about the present, insisting that player-power in Pakistan cricket is being curtailed.
One thing must be ensured that the institution is bigger than the player, Ashraf said in an interview. The PCB wont allow any player to offset the unity in the team, and each one will have to be responsible for their own performance. I hope there arent any groups within the team but if there is something it will be dealt with strictly. We have given considerable latitude to players and given them the space to perform, he said.
We have been observing each and every player in the team, who is performing well and who is not. I also understand who talks a lot without producing results, so I think 2013 is the year for an overhaul and things will be better soon. I want to give Pakistan cricket a new direction and a future a future beyond all the previous tragic incidents. What is required is to have a free and clean environment for cricket with no more room for yet another controversy. I dont find any reason that Pakistan cannot be the top team in all formats. Pakistan is a very talented cricket playing country but we have to work hard to make it possible. We have short and long-term plans but I just need time. We are focusing on youth as the current lot who is above 30 might not be as athletic in the field as the Australians are but we can make our upcoming youth a complete product, bringing them up with the best system and training.
Ashraf wants to provide plenty of opportunities to young players at the junior level, giving them ample exposure before reaching the top level. He also acknowledged that the A team, which hasnt played too many matches in recent times, needs to be given more chances to help Pakistan test their back-up. The years between 2008 and 2011 were a low in Pakistan cricket in terms of governance, with frequent disputes between senior players and the board, and a rent-a-quote chairman not showing the tact needed to smooth out the differences. Ashraf is wary about the challenges he faces after taking over as PCB chairman a year ago, and knows a lot still has to be done.
What happened in past is past. I dont see myself criticising my predecessors. Instead I am seeing what can be done to give Pakistan cricket some stability. The chairman did confirm, that the PCB would follow the ICC guideline. We have already conveyed the details to our patron-in-chief (Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari), Ashraf said. We are willing to comply with the ICC provision and there is no point of ruling it out. We will make it before the deadlines approaches.
One of the major items in Ashrafs agenda is bringing back international cricket to Pakistan. The incident of Sri Lanka team attack was mishandled and it could have been controlled with greater care if the PCB itself had monitored with the help of an advance team. We know proper security wasnt there and routing arrangement wasnt in best shape to allow the team bus. But now things have changed and we are here to own things and have learnt the lesson. I know its a tough task, but for how much time should we sit like this. Only waiting for the right time wont change things but we have to plan for it. We recently have approved a mega project in Islamabad in which we have planned to build a huge stadium along with hotel within the premises that will allow surveillance with heavy security and teams will be carried from airport to stadium with the help of helicopters.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
Pakistan cricket has been riddled with infighting, indiscipline and clashes between players and the board over the last few years. Ashraf says he didnt want to rake up the past but is confident about the present, insisting that player-power in Pakistan cricket is being curtailed.
One thing must be ensured that the institution is bigger than the player, Ashraf said in an interview. The PCB wont allow any player to offset the unity in the team, and each one will have to be responsible for their own performance. I hope there arent any groups within the team but if there is something it will be dealt with strictly. We have given considerable latitude to players and given them the space to perform, he said.
We have been observing each and every player in the team, who is performing well and who is not. I also understand who talks a lot without producing results, so I think 2013 is the year for an overhaul and things will be better soon. I want to give Pakistan cricket a new direction and a future a future beyond all the previous tragic incidents. What is required is to have a free and clean environment for cricket with no more room for yet another controversy. I dont find any reason that Pakistan cannot be the top team in all formats. Pakistan is a very talented cricket playing country but we have to work hard to make it possible. We have short and long-term plans but I just need time. We are focusing on youth as the current lot who is above 30 might not be as athletic in the field as the Australians are but we can make our upcoming youth a complete product, bringing them up with the best system and training.
Ashraf wants to provide plenty of opportunities to young players at the junior level, giving them ample exposure before reaching the top level. He also acknowledged that the A team, which hasnt played too many matches in recent times, needs to be given more chances to help Pakistan test their back-up. The years between 2008 and 2011 were a low in Pakistan cricket in terms of governance, with frequent disputes between senior players and the board, and a rent-a-quote chairman not showing the tact needed to smooth out the differences. Ashraf is wary about the challenges he faces after taking over as PCB chairman a year ago, and knows a lot still has to be done.
What happened in past is past. I dont see myself criticising my predecessors. Instead I am seeing what can be done to give Pakistan cricket some stability. The chairman did confirm, that the PCB would follow the ICC guideline. We have already conveyed the details to our patron-in-chief (Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari), Ashraf said. We are willing to comply with the ICC provision and there is no point of ruling it out. We will make it before the deadlines approaches.
One of the major items in Ashrafs agenda is bringing back international cricket to Pakistan. The incident of Sri Lanka team attack was mishandled and it could have been controlled with greater care if the PCB itself had monitored with the help of an advance team. We know proper security wasnt there and routing arrangement wasnt in best shape to allow the team bus. But now things have changed and we are here to own things and have learnt the lesson. I know its a tough task, but for how much time should we sit like this. Only waiting for the right time wont change things but we have to plan for it. We recently have approved a mega project in Islamabad in which we have planned to build a huge stadium along with hotel within the premises that will allow surveillance with heavy security and teams will be carried from airport to stadium with the help of helicopters.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
