Aamir Sohail to be retained as captain today (8 December 1998)

8 December 1998

Aamir Sohail to be retained as captain today

By Samiul Hasan

KARACHI, Dec 7: Aamir Sohail will be retained as captain for the remaining two Tests against Zimbabwe on Tuesday while the appointment of skipper for the Indian tour will be deferred for the next meeting, insiders said on the eve of the executive council meeting.

The councillor, requesting not to be disclosed, vowed that there was a clear majority amongst people thinking on those lines chiefly because it had a cricketing logic.

He argued that if Aamir Sohail was removed as captain, there was still uncertainty about the future of the other candidate (Wasim Akram) because of the judicial investigations. "The commission's report is expected next week and who know's what will happen."

The councillor further stated that if Sohail was appointed captain for the two Tests against Zimbabwe and another man was named captain for the tour of India, it would create bad blood in the team and the remaining harmony and team spirit would vanish.

"It has been recommended that Aamir (Sohail) should be retained captain for the remaining two Tests and another meeting should be called after this series to appoint captain for the Indian tour. By that time, the situation regarding Wasim Akram's career would be crystal clear," the Councillor said.

He stated that disciplinary action, however, could be order against Aamir Sohail on Tuesday for breach of code of conduct by criticizing the selectors. "But so far, no complain has come against him (Aamir Sohail). However, if any councillor raised his voice on this issue, the disciplinary would be asked to investigate the matter and report back for necessary action," he said.

He said Aamir Sohail would be attending the meeting along with Javed Miandad and Wasim Bari to explain Pakistan team's performance this season. "He can be questioned about his outburst against the selectors."

The councillor, nevertheless, emphasised that the executive council had been verbally told that Tuesday's meeting was being called to decide whether the Pakistan team should tour India under present circumstances.

"But the agenda circulated said the captain would be appointed.

"Anyway, the councillors want that the team should go to India in the background of Indian Prime Minister (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) assurances," he said.

With the major issues regarding captaincy already been decided outside the PCB board room, Tuesday's meeting will largely revolve around issues like approval of last year's budget and any other item for discussion.

Source :: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)