Miandad claims PCB sidelining him despite Zardari giving him more authority

LAHORE - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director General Javed Miandad has claimed that he is being sidelined by the board despite President Asif Ali Zardari vesting him with ‘more authority and power.’

“When I met President Zardari, he had clearly told the board chairman to give me more authority and power and that I should look after international and domestic cricket,” the Daily Times quoted Miandad, as saying.

“The President had also asked me to ’supervise our involvement in promoting cricket in China,’ but nothing of that sort has happened,” he added.

Some time back, the former captain had met Zardari, who is the PCB’s chief patron, to discuss cricket matters, and was assured by the president that he would have enhanced powers in the board.

However, the board had not bothered to even consult him while deciding to hold the National Twenty20 Championship, and then announcing the T20 and one-day squads for the upcoming series against South Africa before the championship had started, disclosed Miandad.

“The National T20 Cup has lost its charm and importance for players. What incentive do they now have to do well in the tournament when the teams for the South Africa series have already been announced?” the former skipper pointed out, adding, “I would never have supported such a move.” (ANI)