New members of ad hoc body and selectors likely this week

Karachi, Oct 31: New members of the ad hoc and selection committees will replace the existing officials this week, chairman Dr Zafar Altaf said.

Zafar Altaf, in an unscheduled visit to Karachi, told reporters that he would be announcing the members of the two committees in the next two days.

"The members of the two committees will stand replaced once I announce new members. But until the new announcements are made, they will continue to work," he said at the National Stadium.

He refused to disclose the names of the people he would be inducting in the two committees, independent sources said a former member of the selection committee is likely to head the three-member selection committee.

A former chief selector, according to sources, will be one of the four ad hoc committee members. The Domestic Tournament Monitoring Committee (DTMC) is expected to be headed by Intikhab Alam, former Pakistan team manager.

"You are entitled to speculate anything but I am not willing to disclose the names of the people until I get the confirmation of their availability," he remarked when pressed.

When specifically questioned on Javed Zaman Khan who was appointed member of the ad hoc committee in a July 17 presidential notification along with Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Zafar Altaf said: "I think I have already answered the question. All members of the ad hoc committee will be replaced."

As regards Col (retd) Naushad Ali, who was the chairman of selectors in Mujeeb's reign, he will continue to work as Director Operations (Cricket).

On the suspension of the associations, Dr Zafar Altaf observed that the action of the previous management may have aimed at seizing complete control of the administration.

"Whatever I have seen, no evidence is on record as to why the associations were dismissed. It was more a power play," he said, adding: "Now I will have to rectify all this."

Asked if he was hinting at restoring all the associations, the PCB chief replied: "Don't put answers in my mouth."

He, however, said the scrutiny of the clubs would continue and fresh elections would be held. He said the scrutiny committee has been given a Dec 31 deadline after which their work would be assessed before election schedule is announced.

Dr Zafar Altaf said the PCB would organize a tournament which will only be participated by towns. "Only Town teams would play in the event which will start in February. The idea behind holding the event is to promote cricket at the grass roots level.

"Players like Shabbir Ahmad have emerged from small centres but has anyone bothered to know if there were any other players who played cricket with Shabbir in that town? After all, Shabbir must be playing club cricket there," he said.

He added that the introduction of this event was felt after it was observed that the department were not grooming and promoting youngsters. `

He said the town teams tournament will be participated by approximately 28 towns and the matches will be of three days. He said in three years time, the towns would be able to organize and sponsor their own teams which will make domestic cricket more competitive with equal opportunity to every youngster aspiring to make cricket his career