LAHORE: The new administration of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) led by chairman Ehsan Mani, seems to have taken a leaf out of its Indian counterparts, the BCCI’s book in forming its own advisory committee. Known as the ‘Cricket Committee’, it will be chaired by former batsman Mohsin Khan and will also feature former captains Wasim Akram and Misbah ul Haq. Ex-women’s captain Urooj Mumtaz has also been named in it.
According to a PCB statement, the committee’ inputs will be in the form of a comprehensive review for promoting and developing the game across all levels in Pakistan in the following ways:
a) Formulating playing conditions for domestic matches.
b) Overseeing the appointment of all selection committees.
c) Overseeing the appointment of national team coaches.
d) Meeting with the chief selector and coach (Men, Women & Junior) thrice a year.
e) Reviewing plans for the development of umpires, referees and curators.
f) Receiving annual assessment of performance from management on umpires & referees.
g) Preparation and quality of pitches.
h) Condition of playing facilities (dressing rooms, practice facilities including net wickets)
i) Giving views on any other matter referred by Mani.
“I would like to thank chairman Mani for the opportunity,” Cricket Committee chairman Mohsin Khan was quoted as saying to ESPNcricinfo.
“The chairman told me he wanted to form a committee that included some of the best cricketers in Pakistan’s history, and you can see that in the presence of Wasim, Misbah and Urooj Mumtaz. We will all work together on issues ranging from domestic cricket to international cricket, be it about selection, captain or coaches. We will make all our decisions on merit, without any favouritism. That is my goal, and I’m glad the chairman has given me such a fine team to work with.”
Pakistan bowling legend Wasim Akram told ESPNcricinfo: “People have often asked me why I haven’t got involved in coaching, especially with my experience of the past 8-10 years. But it’s about finding the best way to improve Pakistan cricket, which involves improving the first-class structure. It won’t happen overnight, but with the experience of all of us, we can make a difference.”
Ex-captain Misbah ul Haq said to the media agency: “The first-class cricketers are the only ones we have that will go on to represent Pakistan at international level. So we need to provide them with the requisite facilities and make domestic cricket competitive, otherwise you can never improve the standard of cricket in your country.
“That I am still playing enables me to get a first-hand account of the current problems facing first-class cricketers. This speeds up the implementation process, because you don’t need to ask anyone else about the realities on the ground. We want to have a significantly improved domestic system by the time the next Quaid-e-Azam trophy season rolls around.”
