‘Beleaguered’ PCB boss Butt seeking second term would be ‘ridiculous’: Akram
By ANIMonday, October 18, 2010
KARACHI - Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram feels that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt seeking another term would be nothing but ridiculous, as the whole country wants him ousted from the post.
“If Ijaz has asked for another term then hats off to him. The whole of Pakistan and world cricket is after him. Pakistan cricket is in a mess, there is no leadership and amidst all this, to ask for another term, well what can I say. This shows that his advisors are not giving him the right directions,” the Daily Times quoted Akram, as saying to a sports TV channel.
The PCB chief’s term (October 6, 2008 - October 31, 2010) has been marred by controversies. Butt, who has been facing scathing criticism from all quarters for the way he has handled the spot-fixing scandal or allowed things to get out of hand in the team, has also been blamed for interfering in purely cricket and team matters, something which no chairman had done in the past.
Under his chairmanship, Pakistan has also seen five different Test captains come and go in just over a year- Shoaib Malik, Younus Khan, Mohammed Yousuf, Shahid Afridi and Salman Butt.
Akram said, “Ijaz has been unable to hold forte. He is not a man in command. Pakistan cricket is in doldrums. There is no leadership and it was the chairman’s role to keep all these things under check. He has failed.”
The selection board has also been criticised for not consulting ODI skipper Shahid Afridi and coach Waqar Younis while picking the team for the upcoming series against South Africa in UAE.
Blaming the whole incident as a management failure, Akram said, “I strongly believe that the presence of the captain and coach is a must in the process of team selection. It’s fine that it is a selectors’ job, but again it is a team game. If you keep fighting amongst yourselves then where is the leadership? The ball once again falls in Ijaz’s court. He should take care of all these things.”
Talking about the forthcoming Pak-South Africa series, he said, “Pakistan can beat anybody in Twenty20, but the one-dayers and Tests will be a different ball game. Even if Pakistan win a match or two South Africa can always come back, they are always a difficult side.”
“Wherever the Proteas play, they are a tough side to beat. Pakistan will give them competition, but I believe the series will be a close affair,” Akram added. (ANI)
