PCB hits back at ‘unprofessional’ Waqar

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday decided to hit back at Waqar Younis following his resignation as the national team’s bowling coach saying that the former Test cricketer lacked professionalism.
“Waqar has behaved in an unprofessional manner and has resigned as Pakistan’s bowling coach in a burst of anger. The PCB has accepted his resignation,” said PCB’s Director Communications Dr Ahsan Malik.
Waqar, 35, announced on Saturday that he has decided to quit as Pakistan’s bowling coach because of alleged mistreatment by the PCB.
His decision to resign came just hours before his scheduled flight for South Africa where the Pakistan team is currently preparing for a three-match Test series starting at Centurion from January 11.
Waqar claimed that the PCB showed him disrespect by not including him in the team management for the one-day series against South Africa to be held next month.
“I was told that my services were needed by the Pakistan team for just the Test matches and they didn’t require me for the one-dayers. I don’t think I deserved such shabby treatment and decided against continuing as the team’s bowling coach,” said Waqar.
However, Ahsan refuted Waqar’s allegations that the PCB mistreated him saying that the former Pakistan captain lacked professionalism and discipline.
The PCB official told ‘The News’ in a telephonic interview that Waqar went on an unauthorised leave just before Pakistan’s tour of South Africa and later threw unnecessary tantrums.
“Waqar went on an unauthorised leave which was against the terms of the contract he had signed with the PCB. That shows his unprofessional approach towards an important job,” he said.
Waqar had gone to perform Hajj late last month with star Pakistani batsman Mohammad Yousuf and a few other cricketers. He just returned home on Saturday.
Ahsan said that the decision to exclude Waqar from the one-day series against South Africa was taken by the PCB with the consent of the national team management.
“According to the contract signed by Waqar, the PCB has the right to include him in the team management whenever his services are required,” he said.
Ahsan said that on the basis of his previous performance as a bowling coach, the PCB assessed that Waqar’s contribution in one-dayers was far from substantial. “The PCB prepares performance reports of all of their coaching staff and according to one of those assessments, Waqar had contributed very little as far as one-dayers were concerned,” he revealed.
He added that in spite of it, the PCB was prepared to honour Waqar’s contract which was till the end of April.
Waqar, who played 87 Tests and 262 one-dayers for Pakistan was appointed Pakistan’s bowling coach in 2006 for a one-year period till this spring’s World Cup in the West Indies.
It is expected that Waqar, who took 373 Test wickets and 416 scalps in one-dayers might sign a contract to coach leading Australian regional team New South Wales (NSW).

Waqar resigns as bowling coach

Waqar Younis has resigned from his position as bowling coach of the Pakistan side with immediate effect, days before the start of an important three-Test and five-ODI series against South Africa.

Waqar returned from performing Hajj in Saudi Arabia to Lahore and told Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, of his decision. Appointed to the position in March last year, before Pakistan's tour to Sri Lanka, he is thought to be unhappy with the PCB's decision to retain him only for the Test series against South Africa and not the subsequent series of five ODIs.

Speaking to local TV channels, he criticised the board. "If I am not needed for the ODIs then I don't want to do the job. The board doesn't look respect its ex-players properly."

A PCB official confirmed the news, telling Cricinfo, "Waqar spoke to the chairman and told him he wanted to be appointed for the full tour." He added, "He offered to resign if he wasn't retained for the whole series and the chairman accepted." Another official made the ambiguous assertion to TV channels that this was a decision for the team management and the board could not get involved.

Whether or not the reappointment of Mushtaq Ahmed, the former Pakistan legspinner, as assistant coach to Bob Woolmer is a factor is open to question. Last week, Mushtaq was reinstated for the entire tour to South Africa as well as the World Cup shortly after, barely three months after Nasim Ashraf removed him, days before the Champions Trophy.

Waqar also expressed, as recently as September, an interest in a coaching position at New South Wales, Australia. The interest appears mutual, as Dave Gilbert, NSW's chief executive, has already said that he wants Waqar to replace Anthony Stuart, who has left to take charge of Wellington in New Zealand.

Waqar responded at the time, "It would be great to work full-time in NSW. I am very much interested in the job. When I finish my contract with Pakistan I will speak to David [Gilbert]." That scenario would be an attractive one for Waqar, as it would provide him the opportunity to return to Australia, where he is otherwise based with his family.

Speculation will almost certainly filter through over the next few days, but it is worth noting that the first time the PCB officially considered appointing Waqar as bowling coach, there also resulted considerable friction. Nearly two years ago as Pakistan prepared to tour India, Waqar was in negotiations with the board for the job. But it ended in considerable acrimony, Waqar walking away disgruntled at not being offered the long-term role he envisioned, the PCB instead insisting on a series appointment only.

Waqar, 35, is one of Pakistan's most successful bowlers ever, famed for reverse swing and his partnership with Wasim Akram, and one of the prime reasons for Pakistan's success during the nineties. With 789 international wickets, Waqar is second only to Akram as Pakistan's leading all-time wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs. He was a less successful captain, overseeing a shambolic 3-0 series defeat to Australia in 2002-03 and a disastrous 2003 World Cup campaign. He was removed immediately after and announced his retirement in 2004.
Crininfo production.

Aaqib Javed appointed NCA head coach

KARACHI: Former Test cricketer Aaqib Javed has taken over as chief coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday.
A PCB spokesman said that Aaqib’s appointment as the head of coaching at Lahore’s NCA would be highly beneficial for the young players training at the academy.
“Aaqib brings to this position vast experience as an international cricketer and as a professional coach,” said the spokesman.
Aaqib, 34, played the last of 22 Tests (54 wickets) in 1998 and was a part of a much-feared Pakistani pace attack in the nineties that included Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. He had a more successful one-day career during which he took 182 wickets from 163 matches.
A specialist of swing bowling, he was a part of Pakistan’s triumphant 1992 World Cup squad and once held the record of the best bowling figures in a one-dayer (7-37) which he achieved against old rivals India in Sharjah in 1991.
Aaqib has stayed attached with international cricket since his exit from Test cricket nine years back and has attended several coaching courses and workshops in recent years.
He completed a PCB Level-2 Coaching Course (2003) and has participated in Asian Cricket Council (ACC) High Performance Course (2004). He has also attended the Cricket Australia/ACC Cricket Skills course for fast bowling and batting, held in Bangkok (2004-05).
Aaqib has successfully completed assignments as fast bowling coach at Lahore Regional Academy at Sheikhupura (2001), head coach of Lahore Region at Muridke (2002) and fast bowling coach at NCA (2004-05).
He has trained several of Pakistan young fast bowlers including Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Khalil, Mohammad Irshad and Samiullah Niazi in recent times.
Aaqib has also coached several national age-group teams and under him Pakistan won the Under-15 Asian Championship in 2002 and the Under-19 World Cup in 2004. He also had a successful coaching stint with the Pakistan A squad.

PCB working to avoid embarrassment defending pacers

KARACHI: Publicly, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is defying World Anti-Doping Agency and the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) on the case of fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

But privately, the Board officials are making behind-the-scenes moves to avoid any embarrassment if they had to defend the dope-tainted players in front of the CAS after the New Year break.

A PCB official told this correspondent that though the Board is hoping that its stance that WADA or CAS has no legal right to challenge Pakistan’s decision to clear Shoaib and Asif would help end the doping saga, it is in the meantime, in constant touch with legal experts including a leading British sports lawyer Mark Gay.

The lawyer has been working for the PCB on a few cases since helping them out in the aftermath of The Oval Test fiasco. The official said that the idea is to be fully ready for any kind of scenario that emerges in the next couple of weeks.

He said that the PCB is ready to go all the way to defend Shoaib and Asif in a bid to keep them in contention for next spring’s World Cup in the West Indies. Asif is seen as a key figure in Pakistan’s bowling attack and would be spearheading it during next month’s tour of South Africa. Shoaib has been overlooked for the trip but because of his sheer pace, he is regarded as an important player in Pakistan’s World Cup campaign.

Both the players were banned after testing positive for illegal performance-enhancing substance nandrolone but later won their appeals and are eligible to play international cricket. However, there is some uncertainty over their future because WADA has appealed against Pakistan’s U-turn over the doping bans in the Lausanne-based CAS.

The high-powered CAS arbitrates international sports’ disputes and WADA officials believe that it can help punish the Pakistani pacers who did fail dope tests in October but were let off by an appeals committee on the grounds that they were not told about possible contamination of protein supplements.

However, the PCB has rejected the intervention of both WADA and CAS on the grounds that it is not a signatory to any international anti-doping code. “The dope tests though which Shoaib and Asif were caught were carried out internally by the PCB.

We allowed proper legal procedure through which the players were initially banned and later cleared by committees formed by competent judges, cricketers and doping experts. The case is closed and we believe WADA or CAS is not authorised to challenge it,” said the official.

He said that the PCB has consulted the matter with expert lawyers who agree that the Board has a point. However, if the case does come up for a debate in the CAS then the PCB would support the players through all possible measures.

“Shoaib and Asif are two of our leading cricketers and they have been exonerated by an appeals court. If there is a danger of them getting banned against for the same doping offence then the PCB would use all its resources to help them,” said the official.

He rejected the impression that Shoaib has fallen out of the PCB good books after refusing to wear a sponsor’s logo in this month’s Twenty20 Cup in Karachi and might be ditched by the Board. “Shoaib got punished for what he did,” said the official.

The maverick pacer was fined Rs10,000 for his refusal to wear the logo but there was a whispering campaign that the Board might have handed Shoaib the real punishment for his act of defiance by ignoring him for the tour of South Africa. “It is a false impression. The only reason why Shoaib was dropped was his lack of match fitness,” said the official.

PCB reacts sharply to CAS letter

ISLAMABAD: While challenging the jurisdiction of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) strongly refuted claims for the start of Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar’s appeal case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), writes Abdul Mohi Shah.
In a hard-hitting reply to a letter received on Friday from the CAS, PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf said that the court had no legal or moral right to approach the PCB.
The content of the letter available exclusively to ‘The News’ says: “It seems to us to be direly plain that the CAS lacks jurisdiction to entertain any appeal and WADA lacked the standing to launch one. Therefore we do not understand how you can entertain such an application still less make peremptory orders providing for compliance within short time scales over the holiday period,” the letter addressed by the PCB to CAS’s David Caslerly says.
Moreover the chairman said, “We would not abide by any orders made by any CAS panel as we do not wish to take any step which might be seen as having accepted that CAS has jurisdiction.”
The reply came following a letter received by the PCB headquarters in Lahore from one David Caslerly of Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Caslerly in his letter addressed to the PCB chairman demanded all the relevant material and dates suited to the board for the start of Shoaib and Asif case hearing in CAS.
While Shoaib was banned for two years, Asif got one year ban for using performance-enhancing drugs called nandrolone.
Both Shoaib and Asif were cleared of charges by appeal panel a month after ban was imposed by the PCB commission headed by Barrister Shahid Hamid. The day the two were given reprieve by the PCB appeal panel, the matter was taken up by WADA, which filed an appeal against the lifting of the ban in Luciana-based court.
However, the PCB always maintained that WADA or the CAS has no jurisdiction to hear such an appeal.
“The PCB is not a signatory of WADA code and thus does not abide by its rules.”
It is also strange to note that while almost all the European courts are closed due to the Christmas and New Year holidays, the CAS still pursues the appeal matter to possibly appease WADA or those who are interested in solving the case at earliest.
Asif on Friday was named in the Pakistan team for the tour of South Africa while fitness problems kept Shoaib out.

Goog governance needed for cricket:

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!

Doping Saga continues-III

read first:Doping Saga continues II
As discussed earlier that ICC are WADA are not happy with the decision of PCB for overturning the ban on shoaib and Mohd. Asif after the dope test being found positive,so after a lot of discussion and gossip,WADA has finally knocked the door of International court of Justics for sports and they have submitted their appeal against PCB's decision.
If u are wondering about the stand of ICC here,so let me clear what ICC said,
"Our Lawyers have studied that case very carefully,and we agree that we cant interfere in the matter legally anyhow.But still,we back WADA and will provide our full support if needed"
WADA thinks very oppsite to ICC.WADA official announced that they have the right to interfere in any doping case happened anywhere in the world and they have the right to appeal against PCB.
The hearing of the appeal is expected to be after the christamas holidays.

Hero Card lottery to come under hawk eye

KARACHI: Pakistan Sports Trust’s (PST) Hero Card Scheme is expected to come under the magnifying glass at the top level after the Senate Secretariat in Islamabad received a letter from an influential Senator who has sought detailed information on the project that is generating huge sums of money, writes Khalid Hussain.
Well-placed sources told ‘The News’ that in a recent letter received by the Senate Secretariat on December 18, Senator Enver Baig has requested the Senate Secretary to get detailed information about the scheme from the Sports Minister.
The letter, a copy of which has been obtained by ‘The News’, asks the PST six questions pertaining to the details of the Hero Card Scheme and the funds the Trust has collected so far.
The Hero Card Scheme, which is a sort of a national lottery, was launched two years back to fund the PST, a body headed by Lt Gen (retd) Arif Hassan.
The PST’s motto is to produce sports champions and was launched to help Pakistan win laurels in major sporting events like the Olympic Games and Asian Games.
Senator Baig, a member of the Senate Sports Committee, has asked for the date when the scheme was launched and also the details of the funds generated through it. The letter also inquires about the names of the lucky draw winners since the start of the project.
He wants the PST to provide complete monthly statements of the scheme till the date it is called off and also asks “where the funds were deposited and under what terms”.
His letter asks for the scheme’s expenditure and its bank account details till December 18.
The inquiry comes just days after Pakistan completed their worst-ever performance in the Asian Games history when their contingent of about 146 men and women could just win one silver and three bronze medals in Doha earlier this month.
The timing of the letter is no coincidence.
Sources said that some members of the Senate’s sports committee have been monitoring the scheme in recent times and want to probe whether the funds generated through it are spent properly following the disaster in Doha.
The committee is also planning to summon Arif Hassan and other top national sports officials to grill them on the poor performance of Pakistan athletes in the December 1-15 Asian Games.
Pakistan could just win a silver in Kabaddi and a bronze medal each in hockey, squash and wushu in Doha, a performance far worse than this year’s Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, where they one gold, three silver and a bronze.