PCB chief Zaka Ashraf unveils future plans for cricketers, chief selectors

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf has unveiled future plans for cricketers and chief selectors after the team’s poor performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, ARY News reported on Sunday.

While talking to the ARY News, Zaka Ashraf urged for taking best decisions to ‘clean the dirt off the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’.

To a question, he replied that the prime minister has the power to retain him as the PCB chief or not. However, he added that he maintained the reputation of the Pakistani team earlier and can still do so.

“I don’t want to take the morale of the team management and coaches down. I wish the best for anyone including Najam Sethi if appointed as the PCB chairmanship by the prime minister.”

“However, the appointment and ouster should be made in an honourable way, otherwise, it would damage the reputation of the board. We should work for the betterment of the cricket by setting aside our differences.”

Ashraf gave details about his meeting with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah, Ashraf said that the BBCI secretary’s attitude was respectful towards him.

The PCB chief said that Jay Shah had also telephoned him a few days ago and recalled the meeting along with other chairmen of the cricket boards.

Asraf claimed that they would soon restore Pakistan and India cricket ties. Regarding the visa issue, the PCB chief said, “We had requested the Indian authorities to issue visas to the Pakistani fans and journalists, however, we cannot forcefully take visas from anyone except for making request.”

The PCB chairman hinted at questioning the business agreements signed by the cricketers and the chief selectors after surfacing of media reports about influences of the management company in the cricket team.

Zaka Ashraf said that the cricket board would devise legislation regarding the business agreements of the cricketers and the chief selectors. “Such business agreements could have become a reason for a clash in the team’s interests. The chief selectors will be questioned and legislation will be devised.”

He detailed that regulations will also be devised for the players’ agents. “There would a monopoly if a single agent has contracts of several players. Business agreements and agents are serious issues and the board would consider these issues on a serious note.”

Commenting on the poor performance in the ICC World Cup 2023, Zaka Ashraf said that people should support the Pakistani team instead of launching criticism on TV channels and social media that would take down the morale of the players.

“Several players had complained about severe criticism on television channels. The mistakes of the cricket teams must be discussed after the conclusion of the world cup.”

To a question, the PCB chief clarified that he does not even allow his children to sit in the official vehicle provided to him by the PCB. He added that his family went to India at their own expense.

The PCB chief was also questioned about Rashid Latif’s claims about not receiving telephone calls from Pakistani skipper Babar Azam.

Zaka Ashraf rejected Rashid Latif’s claims. “I think, it is also part of a game and I feel pity about his claims. I constituted a technical committee under the supervision of Misbah-ul-Haq and several former cricketers were invited there including Rashid Latif and Mohammad Hafeez.”

He continued, “Rashid Latif had also criticised the technical committee when it sought his recommendations. Instead of giving his advice, Rashid launched criticism on the committee and felt proud to walk out of the meeting. I think, it is inappropriate. When you are there in Pakistan, then you have to think like a Pakistani.”

Regarding Babar Azam’s alleged telephone call, Zaka Ashraf rejected Latif’s claims and said, “He has never telephoned me. A skipper cannot contact the PCB chairman as he can only contact the director international or COO of the PCB.”

Talking to the ARY News, Ashraf also opposed allowing cricketers to join different leagues before the World Cups.