PCB controversy: Sethi backed by a media outlet, says Suddle

Army’s ex-coach claims the PCB caretaker head can hold elections within 90 days if he tries to do so.

ISLAMABAD:

Former army cricket coach Major (retd) Ahmad Nadeem Suddle has said Najam Sethi doesn’t know anything about cricket and he is causing harm to Pakistan cricket on the international level.

Suddle, who launched a plea against Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) caretaker chairman Najam Sethi in Islamabad High Court, was expressing his ideas on Saturday at the Express News show Takrar.

He said Sethi had never played cricket in his lifetime and his claim to have played the game during college days was based on a lie. “We have made an inquiry into his claim, and have found it false,” he added.

He said when Sethi was appointed as the PCB caretaker chairman, Imran Khan had said that the person appointed as PCB head [Sethi] didn’t even know how to hold a bat.

“If elections of a country can be held in 90 days, why can’t the elections of PCB be organised in the given time?” he asked. “Everything is possible if one’s intentions are clear.”

He alleged that Sethi only wanted power to appoint his favourites and sell media rights as he was supported by and affiliated with a media group, whose interests he wanted to serve.

Suddle said the question of media rights should be taken care of by the PCB’s permanent chairman. “Najam is just a caretaker chairman and he should just hold the elections and leave,” he added.

He accused Sethi of being bent upon extending his tenure for his “ulterior motives”.

Suddle also said Sethi was neglecting the affairs of the PCB. “The team was to leave for Singapore but he didn’t announce the names of probables and as a result the team could not go on the foreign tour”. He said Sethi’s presence in the board was harming Pakistan’s future in cricket.

He blamed that the caretaker chairman deliberately wanted to distance Pakistan from International cricket.  He said if the situation continued, Pakistan’s image was going to be battered further.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2013.