PCB distances itself from Bari's comments

The Pakistan Cricket Board has distanced itself from the scathing comments Wasim Bari, the chairman of selectors, made against David Shepherd. Bari lashed out at Shepherd for a poor performance in the final of the Videocon Cup in Amstelveen, which Pakistan lost to Australia by 17 runs.

"We have no comment to offer on this issue. Whatever Bari has said are his personal views and don't reflect that of the board," said a PCB spokesman, according to a Reuters report. Bari, a former Pakistan captain, who played 81 Test and 51 one-day internationals, had said that Shepherd was too old and that he should step down from umpiring in international cricket.

Meanwhile, Bari stood by his remarks. "I don't think I said anything different from what people are talking about after the final," said Bari, in the full knowledge that the International Cricket Council frowns upon its members making negative comments regarding umpires or officials who run the game.

The report goes on to say that a source in the board revealed that Bari had been reminded not to make comments about umpiring in the future.