PCB issues showcause to Miandad

Javed Miandad, the former Pakistan captain, has been issued a showcause notice by the PCB for criticising the board's policies in a newspaper interview.

Miandad, who is currently the director-general of the PCB, apart from being a member of the governing board, had said he was "disappointed" with the functioning of the board as well as the lack of authority vested in him.

"While closely watching the functioning of the PCB, I am disappointed and feel that 90% decisions [taken by the board] are wrong, and are spoiling the sport in the country," Miandad told Dawn on Wednesday. "I am not part of the PCB planning only because I require power and freedom to work, since I have given 35 years to Pakistan cricket and earned a good name.

"People around the world regard my services as a cricketer but the PCB doesn't want to give me authority to improve [Pakistan] cricket.

"I have already brought this matter to the notice of PCB patron, President Asif Ali Zardari. Soon I will meet him again to apprise him of the poor condition of cricket in Pakistan. I will request him to either take necessary steps [to improve cricketing matters] or allow me to leave the DG post."

This is not the first time Miandad has been critical of the Pakistan board. In February last year he wrote a letter to president Zardari, criticising the appointment of Ijaz Butt as the board chairman. In January 2009 Miandad had resigned as director-general of the PCB over differences concerning the exact scope of his work.

A month later, Butt and Miandad had traded allegations over Miandad's resignation at a senate hearing on the decline of Pakistan cricket. The chairman had alleged that Miandad had demanded more money, interfered with matters concerning selection, and was an incapable administrator. Miandad had said at the time that the scope of his role in the contract letter was significantly reduced from what he had initially discussed with the chairman. Though Miandad was reinstated as the director general in March that year, his relationship with Butt has been frosty since.

Miandad, who has been the coach of the national team on three occasions in the past, was not included in the recently formed committee to appoint a new coach for the national team, after Waqar Younis' decision to quit as national head coach after the ongoing Zimbabwe tour. In April, Miandad turned down the role of Pakistan's batting coach due to personal reasons.

Miandad has been asked to submit his reply within seven days.