Some mistakes but no regrets: Ijaz Butt

Curbing the player-power is the highlight of my tenure, says former PCB chairman.

KARACHI: After completing his three-year term,  former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt seems a satisfied man. Butt said he had discharged his duties to the best of his abilities, but acknowledged that every human being makes mistakes and he was no exception.

"I have no regrets whatsoever as I tried my level best and fulfilled my duties with honesty. I believe curbing the player-power is the highlight of my tenure. It paved the way for young blood," said Butt to a TV Channel.

Butt assumed office as chairman PCB on October 8, 2008. On the expiration of his tenure this month, it was reported that he sought an extension. The former chairman denied this notion and claimed that President Asif Ali Zardari offered him an extension, but he declined.

"I did not ask for an extension and, in fact, formally informed the president in September about my intentions," added Butt.

"The president even gave me an option to get another term and later resign after 6-7 months. However, I have decided to focus on my business, which has suffered," maintained the former wicketkeeper batsman who played in 8 Tests from 1959 to 1962.

Zardari, who is the Patron in Chief of PCB, on Tuesday appointed Zaka Ashraf as the new chairman of the board.

Since the International Cricket Council (ICC) has made it mandatory for the PCB to appoint a democratically elected chairman by next year, some quarters expected the democratic return of Ijaz Butt. On this particular question, Butt categorically negated the impression and reiterated his resolve to stay away from cricket affairs.

Describing the controversies in his career as unfortunate, with the attack on the Sri Lankan team as the most untoward of them all, the former chairman also made a slight displeasure over the way he was criticised on various occasions.

"The attack on the Sri Lankan team was really unfortunate but it was not the fault of the PCB. Also on various other occasions, I was misquoted and criticised unnecessarily," concluded Butt.