Imran’s advice turned down

PCB to eliminate corruption at domestic level.

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director Domestic Cricket Sultan Rana turned down Former captain Imran Khan’s suggestions of reorganising the domestic structure, terming the former captain’s point of view “ideal but unfeasible”.

Khan had earlier criticised the domestic cricket structure which features different departments. The legendary all-rounder had urged the PCB to eliminate the departments and replace them with a maximum of seven regional first-class teams.

He added that these teams should be represented by regional associations with elected members and the chairman of the PCB should be elected by the same regional associations.

However, Rana disagreed, saying, “Pakistan domestic cricket has been running in this fashion for decades now.

“Departments in this country have played a vital role in producing many big names.

“What Khan thinks is particularly an ideal scenario and it’s not easy to implement as departments are the sole sponsors of players in our country and their main source of livelihood.”

Anti-corruption awareness

Meanwhile, the domestic cell, with the launch of the anti-corruption code, is on its toes to spread the awareness around regions as well as the departments.

“We even called upon the district level to teach players the anti-corruption code so that before they reach the regional level or represent any department, they stand well aware.”

Rana further confirmed that the PCB is committed to eliminating corruption at the hands of coaches and managers at the domestic level.

“To ensure fair processing we have started paying the match fees of players directly to their bank accounts instead of paying them through the team management,” added Rana.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th,  2011.