PCB delays naming U19 and World T20 squads

Reinstatement of Ashraf as chairman throws spanner in board’s work .

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has delayed the announcement of the national squad for next month’s ICC Junior World Cup and the preliminary squad for the World Twenty20.

The decision coincided with the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) judgment to reinstate Zaka Ashraf as PCB chairman on Wednesday.

The national selection committee was supposed to announce the U19 squad on January 15 which was the International Cricket Council’s deadline to submit the names for the tournament. The event will start from February 15 in the UAE.

Subsequently, the PCB is also running out of time to give the names of a 30-man preliminary squad for the ICC World Twenty20 which is to be sent by January 16.

A PCB official said the board had sought relaxation for two to three days in the deadline.

Previously, the PCB’s Interim Management Committee (IMC) chairman Najam Sethi was supposed to give approval for the two squads. However, Ashraf is now expected to give the go-ahead to the squads following the IHC verdict.

Regarding the team’s participation in Bangladesh for the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20, Ashraf said that the decision will be taken on the basis of national interest.

“I have heard that our security official will be visiting Bangladesh [on January 20]. The decision will be taken in the light of his assessment and in the interest of Pakistan cricket.” It may be mentioned that during Ashraf’s tenure, relations between the PCB and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) turned bitter after the latter failed to fulfil a commitment to tour Pakistan.

The PCB is raising security concerns due to the ongoing political crisis and anti-Pakistan sentiments in Bangladesh. Recently, Sethi held a meeting with the BCB officials in Dubai and was assured of special security arrangements for the national team.

However, Sethi had said that the final decision will be made after the security officer’s visit and government’s permission.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2014.

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