Zaka Ashraf, the PCB chairman, 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 also pledged a reform of the PCB administration, saying the problem
with Pakistan cricket was not in the system or in its constitution but
in the people who are in charge. He said he would work to ensure the PCB
would fall in line with the ICC's 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
said he didn't want to rake up the past but was confident about the
present, insisting that player-power in Pakistan cricket was being
curtailed.
"One thing must be ensured that the institution is bigger than the
player," Ashraf said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. "The PCB won't
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 aren't 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 don't 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."
He 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 hasn't 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 was wary about the challenges he faced
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 don't see myself
criticising my predecessors. Instead I am seeing what can be done to
give Pakistan cricket some stability."
The PCB has come under flak for its constitution that allows its
chairman almost dictatorial powers, nearly making it a one-man show. "I
am big follower of democratic system but in any case there is always one
man behind the gun," Ashraf said with a smile. "I don't see any flaw in
the system or in the constitution, the fault actually lies in the
people who are at helm of the affairs. System is here to stay, it has to
run with always a room for possible improvement.
"But if my working team isn't good then definitely I will not able to
perform. I tried to bring a lot of former cricketers on board and made
various committees accordingly and they take decision and I only oversee
and approve in light of their recommendations. I'm not involved
directly nor do I take any direct decisions but I seek explanations
before giving an approval."
Ashraf isn't a full-fledged politician but is a member of the Pakistan
People Party's Central Executive Committee. With the ICC deadline for
removing political interference from member boards looming, the PCB
needs to amend its constitution. The prospect of the amendment is not a
straightforward move as, according to Ashraf, every country has its
unique circumstances according to which the system functions.
The chairman did confirm, however, that the PCB would follow the ICC
guideline. "We have already conveyed the details to our patron-in-chief
(the 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 Ashraf's 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 wasn't there and routing arrangement wasn't 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 it's a tough task, but for how much time should we sit like
this. Only waiting for the right time won't 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 alongwith 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."
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