JEDDAH, 4 June 2007 — It is up to the national selectors whether Inzamam ul-Haq plays for the country again, according to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Nasim Ashraf.
“If the selectors pick him, then he will play. It is left entirely to them,” Ashraf told Arab News in an exclusive interview yesterday.
He made this comment following a query whether the recommendation of the Ijaz Butt committee, probing the World Cup debacle, of not picking Inzamam in the future would be implemented.
The PCB chief, who is here to perform Umrah and pray at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, said he had already implemented some of the recommendations.
Ashraf said he had heard about the latest reports saying that coach Bob Woolmer had died of natural causes in Jamaica after the team’s exit from the World Cup.
“I have not received any official intimation about this so far. I can only say that we were confident from day one that whatever was the cause of his death, none of our players had a hand in it. No member of our team or team management was a suspect. In fact we were the victims,” he said.
Ashraf continued: “We asked them to probe this thoroughly so that if this was a case of unnatural death, we want to know who is behind it. We had also sent our two experts to Jamaica to investigate. Their report has been submitted to the Pakistan Interior Ministry.”
“I know he was not well. He had diabetes and sleep apnea (breathlessness during sleep). We hope that this episode ends soon because not only the team but also all Pakistanis were under the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Meanwhile, I would like to place on record my gratitude to the Jamaican government and in particular Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller who went out of her way to be helpful under very difficult circumstances,” he added.
Ashraf said that in this whole episode Jamaican Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields’ role was very negative.
“He blew this whole thing up to take the center stage. I am sure his job will be at stake and the Jamaican government will do something about it. His own people are not happy with him,” he said.
Ashraf said the Butt committee had categorically stated that there was absolutely no evidence of match-fixing in this affair. “Some of our senior cricketers — I won’t name anyone — had raised this issue and the media had picked it up. They are the ones who cause the most damage to the country by saying such things,” he said.
Even though this concerns the crucial subject of players’ safety and security in an important event like the World Cup, the PCB will not raise it at the next International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting, Ashraf said.
“One subject that we will definitely raise at the next ICC meeting is the preparation of pitches for ICC events such as the Champions Trophy and the World Cup. We would like to inquire about the process and who is ultimately responsible for preparing the pitches, whether it has to do with the ICC team or the local host committee. In this context, questions are being raised officially in Pakistan,” he added.
About reports that too much stress on religion had affected the team’s performance in the World Cup, he said, “We are all Muslims and we have to offer prayers as a duty. When the team go abroad, they are not only cricketers, they are also the country’s representative. At the same time, their focus should be on cricket.”
Ashraf was happy with new skipper Shoaib Malik’s first stint at the helm when he led the team to a 2-1 win over Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi. “I had closely observed the players during the last three tours including the World Cup. Three of them struck me as highly committed and dedicated, eager to keep fit and with a shrewd cricketing mind. Shoaib was on top of the list. If you look at his past performances, he has always scored runs in a crisis,” Ashraf added.
“He has approached all senior players and has earned their support and cooperation. A message has also been sent to the team to behave and cooperate. I am sure Shoaib will serve Pakistan as captain for a long time,” he said.
Talking about Younis Khan, Ashraf said he was disappointed when he turned down the captaincy. “I could understand his total disillusionment after the team lost in the World Cup. In fact he was unhappy earlier too after the Champions Trophy. In this context I would like to quote Indian skipper Rahul Dravid who told me in Mumbai during the ICC awards: ‘You are lucky that you have Younis in your team,’” he added.
Ashraf said the PCB had zero tolerance for doping and denied reports that Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif were dropped from the World Cup squad because they were not clean by that time.
“Shoaib and Asif had gone to London for treatment . They were to let me know by March 1 about their fitness. Since they did not, they were replaced,” he said.
Ashraf said this was an internal matter for the PCB. “The doping case is closed. It is true that Shoaib and Asif got the benefit on the basis of a technicality. The World Anti-Doping Agency has no jurisdiction in this and in the Court of Arbitration for Sports, we will be vindicated,” he said.
About Shoaib, Ashraf said: “We will give everybody a fair chance. Everybody has to live by the rules. There will be no compromise on fitness, discipline and form. Only those who attend a coaching camp prior to a series will be selected.”
He said contracts will soon be given to the players. “These contracts will be performance-based. There will be three categories based on the previous 12 months’ performance on points basis. For the first century 300,000 rupees will be given and if we win the match, bonus will also be awarded. We have already introduced a bonus of 100,000 rupees for a run out and it was given during the Abu Dhabi series,” Ashraf added.
About the new coach, he said more than 13 applications had been received. “Today cricket has become a mind game. It has become more of a science. We need a young, modern and highly educated coach. A three-member committee will short-list candidates to be called for an interview. A final decision in this regard will be made by July 1,” Ashraf added.
He said the draft new constitution of the PCB was with the attorney general. “After the legal vetting, we will implement it as soon as we can. We have 11 regions and 71 districts with playing rights. Regions and associations will be empowered. In the new set-up, the 15-member governing board will be broad-based with representatives from regions, former Test cricketers and even technocrats,” he said.
He denied that in domestic cricket, departmental teams will be done away with. “Departmental teams have played a big role in the history of Pakistan cricket. They are going to stay. What we are planning is a pentangular tournament of elite players,” Ashraf added.
