Gavaskar, Akram assure support for Pakistan Twenty20 league

PCB chief continues efforts to bring back international cricket, and cricketers to Pakistan.


Fawad Hussain October 03, 2012

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Zaka Ashraf has sought advice from former cricket greats, former Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar and Pakistani left-arm pacer Wasim Akram over the proposed Pakistan Premier League (PPL).   

Talking to APP on Wednesday, a PCB spokesperson said that that the PCB chief, who was in Sri Lanka to watch the ongoing World Twenty20, has held meetings with Gavaskar and Akram on the sidelines of the tournament.

For his part, Gavaskar assured the PCB chief for his complete support in making the event a big success. "It is a good step for the development of cricket in Pakistan and the holding of PPL will be a step forward for bringing international cricket to Pakistan," said Gavaskar, adding that he will strive to bring former test cricketers to Pakistan to discuss the PPL.

The PCB plans to hold the event from March 15, 2013.

In a similar meeting with Akram, the spokesperson added that, "Wasim also assured the chairman that he would put up his suggestions for the holding of PPL and termed it a positive effort for bringing back international cricket to Pakistan."

The spokesperson added that Ashraf has asked the former Pakistan team captain to help develop cricket in Pakistan, particularly grooming pace bowlers at the National Cricket Academy.

"Wasim offered his services for the training of upcoming bowlers at NCA and assured the chairman that he would be glad to play any role as far as development of cricket or training of young cricketers are concerned."

The PCB chairman has been working for the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan since taking over the board in 2011.

Earlier in September the PCB had hired consultants to make the league a possibility.

ICC CEO visit in November

Ashraf also met Chief Executive Officer of International Cricket Council, Dave Richardson who accepted his invitation for visiting Pakistan in the coming months, most likely in November.

They discussed the current state of cricket in Pakistan, where Ashraf highlighted the steps being taken for the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan.

"It's been a long time and I will like to visit Pakistan to see development in cricket and to discuss cricket related affairs with PCB Chairman, " said Richardson.

COMMENTS (11)

Hammad | 11 years ago | Reply

Gavaskar said in a statement that he met Ashraf along with former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram at the lobby of the hotel in Colombo and during a brief conversation he was invited to watch the T20 tournament when it is held and there was nothing transpired more than that.

"I happened to meet Mr Zaka Ashraf and Wasim Akram in the lobby of the hotel where I had gone for lunch with a friend. That's when they mentioned that they were planning a Pakistani Premier League. I wished them all the best for it and they invited me to watch it. That is the beginning and the end of the brief conversation in the lobby of the hotel," Gavaskar said in the statement.

Ram | 11 years ago | Reply

Gavaskar may be a great player but he is so selfish that he played for achieving his own records than for his country India. Many of his centuries had taken hours to score depriving other batsmen to play and win the game for India. On the other hand Kapil Dev always played for India and he never bothered about his records. Kapil got out several times. Kapil is a true sportsman. If Pakistan needs an Indian player to help them, they should consider Kapil Dev, Mohinder Amarnath and many others - not Gavaskar

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