Majid unhappy with managers (26 Aug 1997)

26 August 1997

Majid unhappy with managers

By Our Sports Reporter

KARACHI, Aug 25: The chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Majid Khan, came hard on the managers of the Asia Cup squad saying the duo had violated the instructions of the authorities. The former Test opener made the comments replying to a question regarding the US$1,000 fine on Shahid Khan Afridi. The allrounder, it may be recalled, was accused of misbehaving on the flight back home from Colombo.

"The two managers (Zaheer Abbas and Haroon Rasheed) didn't mention the incident in their reports. However, Shahid (Afridi) was fined on the recommendation of the tour disciplinary committee," he replied. The Asia Cup tour disciplinary committee comprised Salim Malik (chairman), Saeed Anwar and Moin Khan, who were unanimously made the members of the committee.

"Technically Haroon and Zaheer should have been seated around the players but one was sitting in the club class and the other was in the front row of the economy class.

Replying to another question, Majid said Haroon was equally responsible in not fulfilling his duties. "I agree that it was the job of Zaheer (Abbas) but Haroon was also instructed to keep his eyes open. Zaheer, it may not be out of context to mention here that, has been replaced as manager from the forthcoming Canadian trip. Maazullah Khan from Peshawar will take over from the former Test star.

Majid Khan also disclosed that Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja was fined in Colombo by the tour disciplinary committee for the violation of dress code. Raja, it may be recalled, had gone onto the field for toss in green shorts before the start of the Asia Cup opener.

On the exclusion of promising pacer Shoaib Akhtar from the Sahara Cup squad, Majid Khan said he has sought a report from the tour manager who is also a Justice of Balochistan High Court.

"I have reasons to believe that there is a serious charge against Shoaib (Akhtar). But I can't comment until I receive the report from Mr Justice Ijaz Yousuf."

Majid stated that Justice Yousuf was also a Council member and if he had recommended the exclusion of the name of Shoaib Akhtar, it must have been on genuine grounds.

The PCB boss said Shoaib Akhtar's case will not go the disciplinary committee. "It will come directly to the PCB and we will handle the issue." Shoaib Akhtar is accused of gross indiscipline on the seven-week tour of England that includes skipping of training sessions, visiting night clubs and pubs, abusing fellow team-mates etc.

CAPTAINCY:

Majid Khan came out with a lot of logic on the appointment of Pakistan cricket team captains saying it was the job of the local associations to groom them.

Majid said if the associations don't keep on changing captains in the local events, the problem of a leader can be sorted out. "Here, we have a problem to pick the captain and in a period of time we learn that he is not capable of holding the responsible job."

He made these comments while saying captains in Pakistan were being made on ad hoc basis with the latest example being of Ramiz Raja who is unsure about his tenure. The general feeling is that as soon as Wasim Akram returns, he will take over from Raja.

"If the associations retain a highly-talented player with leadership skills for a longer run and irrespective of results, I am optimistic that that player will take over as Pakistan captain because by then he would have learned how to handle the players and how to form strategies in changing stages of the game," Majid said.

Majid then cited the examples of Mark Taylor, Michael Atherton, Mike Brearley, Hansie Cronje etc. "They all skipper their parent organisations. Therefore, whenever there is a captaincy crisis, the boards have the player whom they can depend upon.

"I would request the associations to retain their captains for a longer run so that the PCB doesn't have captaincy crisis," urged Majid. Majid emphasised that Ramiz Raja was only captain for the Sahara Cup. "Even if Wasim Akram returns, we will see if he is fighting fit."

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