PCB chairman hints at Inzamam as new captain

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Lt Gen Tauqir Zia indicated here that Inzamam-ul-Haq could be the next national team captain.

The general told Dawn in an exclusive interview that a lot of thought had already gone into this but said the changes, if any, including the team management, would come after the New Zealand tour.

"We have analysed as to who could be the man to take over from Moin Khan. Wasim Akram has been a good captain. He left on his own but cannot become the skipper again according to Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum's report.

"So I am left with Inzamam and Waqar Younis who may or may not be selected. His position therefore is 50-50." He ruled out Abdur Razzaq and Azhar Mahmood saying they were too young to handle the hot seat.

"I think Inzamam will be technically good a captain. We had made him the vice captain with a purpose."

Tauqir explained reasons why Moin was retained as captain for New Zealand tour soon after losing to England at home.

"I protected Moin because he came to me and admitted that he had made mistakes and promised to make amends. And since we had decided that we should have consistency and not change captains every now and then, I put him as the skipper."

Tauqir admitted there might have been a communication gap in the PCB that led to reports of Brig Munawwar Rana, Director Operations of the Board asking the selectors to pick a captain for Sharjah, which was denied by chief selector Wasim Bari.

"It is not up to the selection committee to decide on a captain, they can only recommend one. It is the jurisdiction of the Advisory Council," Tauqir clarified.

Tauqir did not say if coach Javed Miandad's tenure, which is to run till the World Cup in 2003, was going to end prematurely. "I have already said that he will stay till 2003 but when he comes back from New Zealand, I'll have to discuss with him a lot of details.

Tauqir conceded that he had been under a lot of criticizm for continuing with the senior players. "I allowed them to keep going when I found out there were no worthy replacements."

He disclosed plans to form a committee of three to four players to put forward to the PCB, grievances they might have from time to time, on behalf of the team.

Tauqir denied the PCB had received a revised 10-year schedule from the International Cricket Council (ICC) that mentions replacements if India refuse to play Pakistan in future. "We have received no such schedule."