SHARJAH, 14 October — The Pakistan cricket camp was shaken here yesterday after it was confirmed that the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia had submitted his resignation to the board’s patron after the team’s humiliating defeat to Australia in 2nd Test on Saturday.

The news of Zia having resigned was conveyed to the Pakistani players by this afternoon and they were visibly disturbed at this sudden change in events.

“Obviously it is disappointing news for us. I really am at a loss to say anything on this subject but yes this development could have a disruptive effect on our preparations for the third Test,” coach Richard Pybus said.

The English-born coach also made it clear that he didn’t believe this was the right time for the general to resign. “Simply because I don’t think by taking any reactive actions to our defeat it is going to help this team in the long run.”

Captain Waqar Younis also looked upset and was keen to get more details. “I don’t know what is going to happen but this is sad news because I really don’t think the chairman should take the blame for our defeat.”

It was also confirmed that PCB director Chishty Mujahid had also tendered his resignation to the chairman but both resignations were pending because the Patron of the Board, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf is on an official tour of Turkey.

Contacted in Rawalpindi, Gen. Zia said he would not like to add anything more than confirmation that he had submitted his resignation. “I met with the president Saturday evening and tendered my resignation,” he confirmed and added. “He said he would discuss it when he returns from Turkey.”

“I feel down and embarrassed with the team’s dismal performance. And although the same boys fought excellently in the first Test I believe being the chairman of the cricket board, I have to take responsibility for such a poor performance,” he added.

Zia said he had done his best to put things right in Pakistan cricket but unfortunately all the good work done in other areas like improving and developing infrastructure, professional management, establishing academies have not been reflected in the performance of the team.

“I am disappointed and devastated by this latest defeat. I have done my best to get things right in Pakistan cricket, but unfortunately things have not worked out.” Reminded that resigning just four months before the World Cup and in the middle of the Test series against Australia would not help anyone, Zia said he had taken a decision to the best of his conscience.

He also indicated that the decision to drop the senior players for the series against Australia was forced and also taken after deciding that the team needed infusion of new faces for the future.

But clearly this decision has not gone down well with cricket followers and Pakistan team members here as the feeling is that Zia has worked sincerely to get back the team on the right track and his resignation, if accepted, will only create more chaos and confusion in Pakistan cricket.

Since taking over as board chairman in November 1999, Zia has faced a lot of criticism for the performance of the board and team, but it is also a fact that in the last two years he has taken lot of constructive measures to introduce a systematic cricket structure in Pakistan, develop more infrastructure and introduce the team to modern science.

Even officials of the Cricketers’ Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) were clearly flabbergasted with this sudden development and keen to get more details.

Apparently CBFS chief executive Zahid Noorani also spoke to Zia this morning and was told the same thing that he had decided to submit his resignation after the team’s poor performance.

Chishty Mujahid said he had tendered his resignation with the chairman as he had come on the condition that he would work with the general and would go when he goes.