PCB in quandary after Qadir's resignation

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday confirmed that Abdul Qadir has formally informed them that he cannot serve in the bowling committee which is to review the action of paceman Shoaib Akhtar.

The director of the PCB, Brig Munawar Rana, said from Lahore that the board would be announcing Qadir's replacement soon. He, however, admitted that the board had limited options available as replacements.

"Frankly speaking, we don't have much choice to make," Rana said.

According to International Cricket Council (ICC) instructions, the bowling committee should consist of an off-spinner, right-arm wrist spinner and a paceman with all of them having played at the highest level.

"As the situation stands at present, we only have Intikhab Alam, Mushtaq Mohammad and Mushtaq Ahmad available," the PCB official said.

As the PCB continued to deny that it has received footage from the ICC on Shoaib Akhtar's bowling action, sources said Mudassar Nazar and Zakir Khan were seen watching the video film at the cricket headquarters.

While Mushtaq Ahmad is currently touring New Zealand, Intikhab Alam stands no chance of being recalled by the PCB after he was unceremoniously sacked during the home series against Sri Lanka 12 months ago.The PCB, who paid just $10,000 to Alam for three-month assignment, later withdrew Intikhab's name from the ICC panel of match referees which cost him a posting in the England-West Indies series in England.

Former Test skipper, Mushtaq Mohammad is unlikely to be available as he resides in Birmingham, England, and is also ICC roving ambassador.

Qadir became the third leading figure of the present PCB administration to resign when he, according to sources, fell out with the board claiming he was not available to work on honorary basis.

Earlier this week, advisory council member Nasim-ul-Ghani and member of the selection committee Sikander Bakht also resigned. Their resignations prove the interference, intrigues and conspiracies hatching in the board against Pakistan team players currently touring New Zealand.

In January, two selectors Ehteshamuddin and Iqbal Qasim were shown the door after they objected to interference in selectorial matters by some of the top PCB officials.

Qadir, according to sources, had argued that if the board can pay 30,000 pounds to Geoffrey Boycott for a 15-day coaching, he also deserved professional fee after representing the country with honour and distinction.

Ramiz Raja, the 'strokeless wonder', is said to be the mastermind behind Boycott's coaching stints. He is also said to be manoeuvring for the replacement of Javed Miandad with either Mudassar Nazar or Boycott after the conclusion of the ongoing New Zealand tour.

Need not to say that Mohammad Akram and Arshad Khan are in New Zealand only because of Raja as the two players represent Allied Bank.

Brig Rana said the PCB has accepted Malaysia cricket association's request to send an Under-19 team for the four-match series to be played between April 9 and 15.

He said the PCB has, however, requested to increase the matches to five. He added that the selection committee, headed by Haroon Rasheed, will meet on March 20 to pick the players. He said the initial spade work has been done by the selectors and they had a list of talent players from which they will select the boys.