Asif Iqbal appointed ICC's cricket ambassador

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal as their cricket ambassador. Asif is in Mumbai to witness the ongoing Test match between India and South Africa. He is one of the three Pakistani players (the other two being Imran Khan and Mushtaq Mohammed) to be entrusted with the responsibility of accompanying the ICC Development Officer to various countries to assist them in their endeavour to globalise the game.

It is not known how much time Imran would be able to spare from his political activities and the cancer hospital in Lahore for the purpose but Asif must be considering this to be a good challenge. His views on Pakistan cricket are interesting. Wasim Akram, the captain of the Pakistani team on their recent tour to Australia should not have resigned, feels the CBFS co-ordinator. Speaking to this correspondent, the former Pakistan captain stated, "Akram should have continued as captain till his retirement. The Australian team is the No 1 team today and it was no big surprise that both India and Pakistan were thrashed.''

Following the defeats at the hands of the World Cup holder, the Pakistan Cricket Board made wholesale changes in their side and inducted young blood for the home series against Sri Lanka but the gamble (of playing a relatively young team) didn't click and the team lost poorly.

"Instead, the selectors should have retained faith in their old players and allow them to build their confidence" opined Asif.

Leading cricket personalities from all over the world have been converging in Mumbai for the Test match. The CBFS vice chairman Abdul Rehman Bukhatir Rehman is in town, as also the UCBSA managing director Ali Bacher.

Former Test cricketers and top level officials attended the dinner party hosted by the National Grid International Limited, the UK based electric company sponsoring international umpires and match referees. The party was arranged to felicitate umpire David Shephard on the occasion of his 50th Test as ICC umpire.