Pakistan: Is Majid Khan planning to resign as CEO? (18 Aug 1998)

18 August 1998

Is Majid Khan planning to resign as CEO?

By Our Sports Reporter

KARACHI, Aug 17: The chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Majid Khan is considering the options available to him in the background of a decision taken by the executive council on Monday.

Majid Khan, when contacted in Lahore, neither admitted nor denied the speculations in certain quarters that he was considering to resign. But a reliable source close to the former captain said he was seriously considering to submit his resignation.

"He feels insulted. He thinks that he is doing a clerical job and despite being the chief executive, he is powerless," Majid's close aide said.

Sources said Majid was so disgusted with the proceedings at Sunday's meeting that he skipped the press briefing conducted by the chairman. He left the office before 2:00 p.m. while the briefing started after 2:30 p.m.

A senior executive councillor admitted that Majid Khan told him that he might resign after whatever happened which was against his will. "He told me that if the executive council is determined to make a mockery of Pakistan cricket, its better that he should resign and the council run the board," he said.

Majid Khan took over from Arif Abbasi in May 1996 and according to the constitution he still has nine months left to his tenure. The PCB chief executive, however, admitted that he opposed Aamir Sohail's name as captain. "I did not support him because of his behaviour. He has violated the code of conduct on a number of occasions. In my view, an undisciplined cricketer didn't deserve to get the captaincy," Majid said late Monday evening.

He said he did not recommend the name of Rashid Latif saying it were a few council members who wanted to retain him. "They argued that a couple of players are accused of being involved in match-fixing and betting while Aamir Sohail had a bad track record. Therefore, they felt in the present scenario, it would be advisable to retain Latif whose career is absolutely clean," said Majid.

"But I am disappointed and dejected with council's decision on Aamir (Sohail) though I respect it because it is the supreme body and whatever decisions were taken, they have to be implemented and followed," stated Majid.

Majid said he was disappointed with Sohail "because he misbehaved with me last year. If the player can't respect his institution's chief executive, whom will he respect? I don't think I deserved the words that Aamir Sohail uttered."

Asked how will be tackle the present situation, Majid said when the time comes he will decide what he has to do. "I am the secretary of the selection committee but it is my prerogative to sit in it or not. Being the chief executive I can also discuss team matters with the captain but I am undecided if I can do the same with Aamir Sohail."

Majid said he had no objections to the name of Javed Miandad as captain. "It was a unanimous decision of the executive council."

Meanwhile, it has come from the horse's mouth that chairman of the PCB probe committee, Justice Ijaz Yousuf, had submitted an interim report on betting and match-fixing in Sunday's meeting. Informed sources said the report carried the names of cricketers against whom the committee had evidence of their involvement.

Sources said the report included certain recommendations as well.

However, when the subject came in the executive council, the chairman directed the committee to submit a detailed and final report in three months time. "It seems that he wants to make accused and accusers play together," sources said.

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