An interview with NASIM ASHRAF, Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board
Interview by Yahya Hussaini
Translated from Urdu by Sheher Bano
Dr Nasim Ashraf, the new Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has been associated with many international organisations and received many national and international awards including Sitara-i-Imtiaz, UNESCO International Award for Literacy and Star Man of the Year South Asia Publications 2003.
He has been a member of the Adhoc Committee of PCB. He played first-class cricket from Peshawar. He also played against under-19 England team that visited Pakistan in 1969. He was also the winner of the Under-19 Tennis Championship held in 1967. Recently, Geo conducted a special interview with him. Excerpts follow:
Q: As Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, how do you see cricket in Pakistan?
A: In our country cricket is a passion. In order to tap the immense talent present in the country, we need to run the Board on modern business lines and inculcate professionalism and discipline in the game, which are actually my priorities. The Board will fully support only those cricketers who will work professionally; there will be no compromise on discipline.
Q: In your first press conference, you vowed not to bring politics in cricket because the players' responsibility is to the game and the Board is responsible for managing its affairs. You said these comments in reference to whom?
A: I was not specially pointing at anybody. What I really meant by those comments was that in the modern cricket world, we need professionals to manage the game. We have to eliminate the long-held role of the Board as an empire. I want to minimise the authority and powers of the Chairman. I am giving a constitution for the Board through which the new chairman is elected every two years as is done in Australia. After this, professional management and corporate good governance will be introduced. We want to bring a new culture in cricket, where grass root cricket will be given preference. The nation mostly focuses on one-day and Test cricket but our attention should be to develop this sport by strengthening school cricket. Proper coaching should be done at the age of thirteen instead of bringing players in the academy at the age of 19-20. Club cricket is difficult. Contrary to the past, when there used to be 3-4 clubs in small cities along with grounds, we do not have cricket grounds now. The Board is ready to support district government to develop cricket grounds.
Q: You said that it is your responsibility to make the constitution of the cricket board. You are also part of the adhoc committee on cricket. Do you think the members of the adhoc committee should also have some powers?
A: The board is only empowered when it is included in decision-making. I selected Younis Khan as captain for the Indian visit because I myself honoured this decision, a decision that was also endorsed by former captain Imran Khan and Javed Minadad. Inzamam was not present at that time. When I selected Younis, I then had a meeting with Mohammad Yousuf who agreed to play with the captain and vowed to support him as vice-captain. Then I met with coach Bob Woolmer and the whole team and advised them to concentrate only on cricket instead of indulging in conspiracies, especially because they are going to India for the Champions Trophy, which is not an easy environment for the players. I am happy that things went quite satisfactorily and manager Talat Ali and Younis called me to give a positive report about the boys. Bob Woolmer is also coaching with a new spirit.
Q: You were also present at the Oval Test. What happened there?
A: Whatever happened it was not good for cricket and the country. The basic fault was of Darrell Hair's, who made false accusations as it was proved later that there was no ball tampering. However, the Pakistani team's reaction to the whole incidence was also not right as the match was forfeited. The decision was solely Inzamam's; Shaharyar Khan and myself were not present in the dressing room. I entered the dressing room after Hair had removed the bails and that also to send the team on the field. Many people wrongly blame me that I was present in the dressing room at the time and, therefore, am responsible. In actuality, I told Inzamam to go in the field whether Hair comes or not because it will put the blame on us. We should show that we want to play and this is the reason why Inzamam went into field along with the team. During the hearing of the case, ICC liked this spirit.
Q: You have retained Inzamam's captainship for West Indies series but there is news that he will not be the captain?
A: The Board selected Inzamam a year back and even the January meeting in Karachi, when the Indian team visited Pakistan, also upheld his captainship to give him stability. But the team has to visit South Africa in January and the World Cup will be held in March-April. So in December, the Board will look into the fitness of the players to decide as to who will lead the Pakistan team in the World Cup. I have already told Inzamam that he will be the captain for the West Indies series according to the contract but after that we will re-evaluate considering his form and fitness. He showed his consensus to this.
Q: You have been selected as Board Chairman when the World Cup is just 6-7 months away. Do you feel any pressure?
A: Yes, there is some pressure but I cannot change everything with respect to the World Cup in five months. All we can do is to prepare ourselves scientifically. The team showing good physical fitness and better performance in the field will win the Champions Trophy.
Q: How do you see the role of Bob Woolmer in the Pakistan cricket team?
A: I have complete trust in Bob Woolmer and before the Indian tour, I assured my full support to him provided he delivers professionally. He is a professional and we will retain him as coach till the World Cup.
Q: As part of the adhoc committee on cricket, you are satisfied with the performance of Pakistani team. But who is responsible for not introducing good openers, quality spinners and bad fitness level of players?
A: We have told Salman Butt not to touch the wide balls but if a player repeats the same mistake again and again then it is not good. The reason for not having quality spinners is due to the fact that reverse swing in cricket has removed everything. Earlier, spinners were used to be included in national teams after they had taken 150-200 wickets in domestic cricket. I have asked Mudassar Nazar to give a plan in two weeks to introduce quality spinners. We will also conduct talent hunt at district and provincial level to coach them at an early age.
Q: The previous Cricket Board had introduced a Central Contract System to retain those players in the country who have unsatisfactory fitness level, by giving them some money. But many stars continued playing in England, despite the Central Contract. Resultantly, the team had to face injuries before the series...
A: We are reviewing the Central Contract and will counsel the players through the lawyer about the dos and donts and that they cannot play county cricket without the permission of the Board.
Q: In your first conference you said that you will present the Constitution of the Cricket Board to the President of Pakistan in order to eliminate adhocism of the Board?
A: Before November, we will present the draft of the constitution to the President, on which we are working for the past one year. I want to restore the cricket constitution before January 2007.
Q: Are you satisfied with the present selection committee that you said will work till the World Cup?
A: Yes, I am totally satisfied with the committee and it will work till the World Cup.
Q: The Cricket Board favoured some specific players that annoyed many senior cricketers and in the Oval Test, they opposed the Board. What are you doing in this regard?
A: We want to set an advisory committee comprising Test cricketers. But I also want media people in it so that they interact with the players and give them lectures. I have contacted former players and they have assured me full support in this connection.
Q: The Pakistan Cricket Board has become an industry and media has played an important role in this. The bidding for transmission rights of the Cricket Board will be done in 2008. The 2003 bidding was not transparent, what are you doing to ensure transparency in the next bidding?
A: We will select a Chief Executive who will work under the Board. We want to bring professionalism to minimise past mistakes.
Q: You have replaced Shaharyar Khan, who will be a member of adhoc committee in your place?
A: The Patron will select the new member.
Q: The West Indies team is visiting Pakistan. Later, the Pakistani team will visit South Africa. What strategies are you devising for this?
A: The team for the World Cup has already been selected and the team will mainly comprise the present players. The return of Mohammad Hafeez for the England tour was a good sign. We will deal with issues of mental physical fitness, game plan and technical issues scientifically while keeping our shortcomings in mind. We cannot afford experimentation in such a short period.
Q: Will you depute a new manager for the World Cup or will you continue with Talat Ali?
A: We want at least two or three managers for the board who have proper know-how about cricket and who can keep discipline in the team.
Q: Former cricketers say that that there is huge gap between first-class and international cricket. Don't you think that if the national team players will play then it will increase attraction for domestic cricket and the way media has been involved in it, it will also help in selling the transmission rights of the Board?
A: Test cricketers should play domestic cricket that will improve domestic cricket, increase transmission rights that will bring in more money and the players will be benefited.
Q: Inzamam did not go to India. How do you see the chances for Pakistani team in Champions Trophy?
A: Pakistan is included among the favourite teams. Now the team performing better will win. Younis Khan had asked me that if a player wants to write in the foreign press or wants to do commentary what should he do. I told him that the players involved in the series are not allowed to do so. If this is included in Inzamam's contract then I cannot change it. But now I have made it clear to all the players that they will not do any contract with the media without the permission of the board. We will take action against those who do this.
Q: What are your future goals as the Chairman Cricket Board?
A: We want to bring professionalism and good governance and in cricket a culture of strengthening players so that they beat every team in the world.
taken from Geo Super!
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