Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif playing cricket. PHOTO: ZAHOORUL HAQ
At least two former chairmen of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) believe that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif – who is also the patron-in-chief of PCB – shares the blame for Pakistan’s ‘costly indecisiveness’ on the ‘Big Three’ issue.
Repeated requests from the incumbent PCB chairman, Zaka Ashraf, for an audience with the prime minister fell on deaf ears. And Tauqir Zia, a former PCB chief, says Nawaz should have met Ashraf because he was going to represent Pakistan in Saturday’s crucial ICC meeting in Singapore.
“The lack of interest by our own patron [Nawaz Sharif] in meeting Ashraf gave the world [Big Three] more courage to press their case. This shouldn’t have happened. The prime minister should have met the PCB chairman to come up with a clear policy,” Zia told The Express Tribune.
“First we should accept the blame instead of blaming others because it was Pakistan that didn’t have its own house in order before such an important ICC meeting,” he added.
Asked about the possible future course for Pakistan, Zia said the PCB shouldn’t react emotionally and should instead take corrective measures.
“Pakistan has two options: 1.) to leave the strong group led by India in the ICC – which will be a mad decision;2.) to forget the past and bring in someone like Ehsan Mani or Shaharyar Khan as PCB chief to pursue vigorous diplomacy on international front. The second option is more practical,” he said.
Another former PCB chairman, Khalid Mahmood, shares Zia’s views.
“As a former PCB chairman, my main concern is to protect the game,” he said in an interview earlier. “In order to end uncertainty over the cricketing affairs, the prime minister, in his capacity as the patron-in-chief of the PCB, should have taken a firm stand after taking all stakeholders into confidence.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2014.
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@AM - both zarb and zaid are being sarcastic not foolish. In fact zaid come up with these gems quite regularly. You need to have a world view and see their comments in a larger context to appreciate the humor and sarcasm in them. Instead of ridiculing them, you actually ridiculed yourself.
So, it wasn't the bravery after all that many Pakistanis implied on ET posts!
It's ridiculous to assume that things would have been different if Pcb chairman would have met NS. The Pcb chairman is an independent position and he bears sole responsibility for cricket affairs. Furthermore, their is no fault with big three arguments that they get more say and dollars as they are the one who bring in the money. Ofcourse, this was bound to happen given the complete dollarization of cricket like many other sports in the world. The only way to change the trend and have a better say in policies would be to win the next World Cup and then express these views!
So the elected chief of the cricket board and the executive committee needs to meet the PM before they make any decision? They wanted to meet him for 30 minutes and get his instructions on a matter, he probably has not been briefed before. The Board failed to understand what was in play, and now his friends are issuing statements against the PM.
Zaka Asharaf and the PCB: you are supposed to be an independent body as the High Court which reinstated Zaka said, and Patron in chief had no right to remove him. Now follow what the court said and make some better decisions or leave.
PPP's Zaka Ashraf blaming PM. PPP's Tauqir Zia supporting the funny claim. Just tell me how on Earth would a meeting with the PM have changed the minds in South Africa, India, Australia, England, Bangladesh, New Zealand, West Indies and Zimbabwe? This seems ridiculous but not surprising at all. Mr. Ashraf has a habit of blaming PMLN for his follies. His past record tells that he is in a habit of shifting the blame on to PMLN. Last time when he didn't write a letter to Punjab government and BCB refused to send its team (which was mainly due to Indian pressure) he blamed Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for not providing the support. Does he think that things move in such sophisticated a manner? He did not even inform the Punjab government prior to the arrival of the BCB team. And now he blames Prime Minister for not meeting with him. He has himself made it clear that he was to consult with the Governing Body and then do whatever decision it arrives at. Now, after he failed to have developed a smooth relationship with CSA and in preempting their change of heart, he blames the Prime Minister for not having met him. And the funniest part is that the media publishes such a crap claim with supporting arguments from his fellow Jiyala. This is Pakistan for you guys!!!
There is nothing Nawaz Sharif could have done. The Cricket Boards in other countries are elected. They have nothing to do with their governments.
@Salim: Najam Sethi has done a whole show on Aapas Ki Baat where he disagreed with the proposal and asked for time to issue. Since then he was relieved of his duties so he had no further ole.. You can see the show on DailyMotion. It was sometime last week
@wasim ahmed: No wonder NS is the prime-minister as he has been voted in by people like you - senseless and blinded. I would support NS for every good thing he would do but please can you stop being blind when it comes to issues like such. NS has time to go and have vacation in Southern Punjab but wouldn't be bothered when it comes to affairs like these. This issues was commercial as well as protecting Pakistan's interests. Alas! You (and I) deserve this!
So all equals now voted for non-equal system and expect this to turn for best? Pak was already isolated (no IPL) so imagine what Indian ICC will do now.
Pak should focus on their cricket and keep producing world class cricketers. As for what's going in the ICC, these managers don't play the game so let them manage their high income low quality cricket affairs. Times have changed, Pak cricket survived it before and will survive with or without ICC.
@A. Khan: True...all nawaz would have done is provide a good lunch and one of his vacant stares....
This is because there is no real democracy in Pakistan. Now it is Kleptocracy, alternatively cleptocracy or kleptarchy, is a form of political and 'government corruption' where the government exists to increase the personal wealth and political power of its officials and the ruling class at the expense of the wider population, often with pretense of honest government. Just count the number of Sharif family members who are in the government. God help Pakistan.
NS could not take decision. He is afraid of IK that if any thing goes wrong, it will give benefit to opposition. For God's sake, its 1st year of govt and NS has majority, take some tough decisions otherwise nation should not let these ex PM and acting PM go free for their inefficiency esp later who are taking protocol and medical for their 3 months "(bad) service" to the poor nation
Nawaz Sharif needed to do international diplomacy to block this effort. This is what governments do. Leaving everything on Zaka's shoulders was unfair. Zaka’s government was not with him leaving him on a weak pitch.
And that is what I call "passing the buck". Didn't Ashraf know what was good for Pakistan cricket ? What possibly could NS have told him to do ?
even if NS was interested, the world doesnt care for pakistan bcz of what pak does to the world. Beggers cannot be choosers. Instead of using the opportunity, pakistan went empty handed and came empty handed
No Saudi Arabia or china in cricket to save Pakistan
@Nawaz Sharif: Zaka is a best man to destroy Pakistan cricket. He is a Zardari Baqiat who un-necessarily created " War Atmosphere" and now blaming Prime Minister for his own stupidity. Even a common man like me could have got a good deal for Pakistan.
PCB had all the powers to negotiate and get good deal for Pakistan but not only it failed miserably, it has ruined Pakistan's image too. Now shameless officials of PCB are blaming Prime Minister for their own shortcomings. If Prime Minister has to do everything, then why we keep these useless white elephants.
It is amusing when people support NS into practically everything, good or bad, having seen him in his past 2 terms. Pity on the nation. We are directionless for these headless politicians!
Pakistan should cut cricketing ties with "Big Three" in retaliation. Let these "Big Three" beg to play with Pakistan. Pakistan should also bring all Muslim counties together and spread Cricket there. Finally, Pakistan can form a Muslim Cricket Council (MCC) as opposite to ICC. We'll see who is the Boss then !
Nawaz Sharif is absent PM just like Mamnoon is absent President.
Pakistan must strike a deal with BCCI. This can only help them in the future, revive cricket in the country. A stable Pakistan in the future can generate a lot more revenue for ICC and the big three can become big four...but if only PCB is co-operative on this issue.
This is silly. We cant blame mian sahib for everything. He is very busy. He has to think about what to have for lunch EVERYDAY. He doesn't have time to think about the nation's favourite sport. ..
@GP65 : “So how would the votes of the 8 countries who voted in favor of the resolution changed if Nawaz had met Zaka Ashraf?”
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Guessing here {Wink}. Perhaps the expectation was that those countries would be reminded that Pakistan was the world’s sole Islamic Nuclear power and be intimidated into not opposing Pakistan’s wishes at the ICC. Alternatively those 8 countries would be reminded of the supposed indispensability of Pakistan’s “Geostrategic” Central Asian Position. Finally there could be the expectation that those 8 countries could be reminded of Pakistan’s formulation that she was a frontline state in the fight against terrorism and was herself a victim of terrorism and moved to pity.
How about make the PCB non-political for once? I still don't understand why the Prime Minister serves as the patron of PCB. What qualification does the PM have in cricket? Everyone likes to cry 'merit merit!' in this country and this is a glaring example of a lack of it. For goodness sake, make the PCB non-political.
Zaka Ashraf will now be removed because he blamed the PM for something. Too much political interference in everything. That is not how you run institutions.
Pakistani afsars should realize their true position in the world. No one cared to ask for their vote.
Nawaz Sharif knows that India didn't do any thing wrong in proposing the changes which was accepted by 8 countries out of total 10 countries. Why would Nawaz Sharif take the side of right wingers and bring disgrace to himself ? Respect to Nawaz Sharif ...from India. PAkistan should understand that meaning of simple democracy that 8 > 2.
Zaka Ashraf seems clueless. He's so unimpressive and irrational. Mr. Ashraf please put your emotions aside and come up with a proactive strategy to get us to play the top cricketing nations, get teams to come to Pakistan and focus on test cricket instead of T20s. Or else please resign and be gone.
OK, Zaka Ashraf... so you don't want to keep the job!
So how would the votes of the 8 countries who voted in favor of the resolution changed if Nawaz had met Zaka Ashraf?
Can anyone comment on Najam Sethi's role?
Pakistan will be the biggest loser because of its pathetic disciplinary record and shambolic PCB state of affairs. We can rightly consider the loss of Najam Sethi as profound. What can NS do other than give him moral boosting. NS has other important issues on hand to worry about and if that is not forthcoming, where is the mental discipline of Zaka Ashraf? Where is his experience, knowledge, strategy to run PCB affairs other than being a politically well-connected chairman? Mr. Zaka Ashraf should have consulted the other chairmen and players and formulated a strategy to confront the "Big Three.' Now all we can expect is Pakistan getting rubbed the HARD way. Salams
I think Nawaz shrief was in with it, along with the Indians as he did not wanted to offend the pandits in India by taking a clear stance....Thats the reason he appointed Najam Sethi chirya wala as PCB Chief becauses he was chosen to please the Indians when this issue was suppose to come to light he was suppose to side with the Indians.....Shame on the PM for letting our country down.....
Mr. PM listen to sane voices for a change. PCB needs someone credible (Mani or Shaharyar) with diplomatic and persuasion skills at its helms. Loud-mouthing and bharaks will only result in further isolation. Ground realities suggest that more than anything PCB needs to develop relationships with major cricket boards including India.
@wasim ahmed: Seems like u havent read the article!
NS should never have made himself the Patron when he should have his hands ful with more important state matters - delivering or not being another matter. However, for the Chairman PCB to lay the blame on PM's door is non sense.... the PM was to go to Singapore and discuss the ICC instead of him - if so he should not be in hte position he is in. The writing had been on the wall since the proposals were presented and what Pakistan should have done was to get the best possible bargain - now left with an egg on the face!
Yes it is NS fault due to which they created big three... is this some kind of joke.... you can bash him with lot of things but not with stupidity like this..
Nawaz is just like Geo News Aman ki Asha...he wont do anything to protect our Country's interest. Shame on PML-N..
Nawaz Sharif has proven to be totally incompetent for the job of the prime minister. His indecisiveness, poor governance, absenteeism, and lack of interest in national crises has already embolden our enemies within the country and outside. This is the story of just one year. It is scary what the country would be like when Amir-ul-Momineen relinquishes charge after 5 years.
Zaka Ashraf is the best man for the job. The last thing you want to do is remove him (again).