LAHORE, Pakistan, 2 December 2003 — The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Tauqir Zia resigned yesterday, two days after a television fiasco deprived millions of fans of live coverage of the Pakistan-New Zealand one day match.
“Yes, I have resigned from my post because four years is a long period for which I was in charge. I have other things to do in my life,” Zia told reporters at Gaddafi Stadium here.
“The resignation has been accepted by President Pervez Musharraf,” Zia said.
Musharraf, who is patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to announce Zia’s replacement.
Zia awarded television coverage rights to Dubai-based private channel GEO and ignored the state-owned Pakistan Television (PTV). The move triggered a row between the two channels which resulted in the first one-day match on Saturday not being broadcast live.
President Musharraf intervened in the stand-off and it was resolved on Sunday.
Zia stressed he was not forced to resign but many believe that the television fiasco was a factor, as well as the controversial inclusion of his son Junaid Zia in the national team earlier.
He took over on Dec. 12, 1999.
Zia, who claims credit for setting up a multi-purpose national cricket academy on the pattern of the famous academy in Australia, is also known for making heavy investments on the infrastructure of the game. During his four year stint he replaced many coaches and also forced wicketkeeper and captain Rashid Latif to resign after he sided with chief selector Aamir Sohail.
Zia was the seventh PCB chief appointed in the past 11 years by Pakistan, a cricket-crazy country known for frequent changes of captains, coaches and managers.
He became mired in controversy when his son Junaid Zia was picked for the four match one-day series against Bangladesh in September this year. Junaid only took three wickets for 127 runs in the series.
Junaid was later appointed captain of the team for Emerging Nations Cup in Sri Lanka the same month, but the decision was reversed amid severe media criticism. Junaid was also picked in the 15-man squad for the current series against New Zealand but the selection once again sparked media criticism which forced the selectors to withdraw him on the pretext he was to due to sit an examination.
General Zia first tendered his resignation after Pakistan was shot out for their lowest totals of 59 and 53 in their series against Australia in Sharjah in October last year.
However, President Musharraf rejected the resignation and directed Zia to continue. Local media also lashed out at the chairman and demanded his resignation after Pakistan failed to go beyond the first round in the World Cup early this year. But the general weathered the situation and continued.
Musharraf is likely to appoint former chief executive Arif Abbasi or the current PCB Chief Executive Ramiz Raja to replace Zia.
