‘Players need education desperately’

Former PCB HR director has urged urgent education for players that represent the country at international level.

LAHORE: A former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Human Resource director has urged urgent education for all players before they represent the country at international level in light of the allegations surrounding the team.

“Every player should be given basic education comprising ethics and discipline before they’re handed the opportunity to represent the country at international level,” Nadeem Akram told The Express Tribune. “It’s a very important part of the players’ grooming, confidence-building and leading a side when it comes to it.”

Akram believes that the current spot-fixing allegations on the individuals have also emerged because of the lack of discipline in the individuals.

“There is a great need to teach them manners, etiquette and how to carry themselves in public. The chaos has happened because of lack of discipline.

“During my tenure at the PCB, we had initiated a plan at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) where all attendees were taught table manners, how to dress up, interact with the media and we were in the process of finalising a deal with BBC Linguahome to teach players how to speak English.”

Akram also called for strict action against the people responsible for disrupting discipline but more important was to stick with the decisions that the board had taken. “We need to bring discipline in the board where people are hired on political pressures, or are included for the same reason and the penalties waived off.

The PCB took action against seven players responsible for Pakistan’s failures during the Australia tour but almost everyone has been pardoned. This is educating players in the wrong way, they get cue from the management and it reflects in their actions.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2010.