PCB lays down the line on squabblers

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a serious line on the behaviour of the team management for their in-house squabbling, as well as Shoaib Akhtar for his remarks about the board in a recent interview. The PCB did not impose any sanctions on the guilty party, which consisted of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Javed Miandad, Aamir Sohail, and Shoaib, but warned them to play by the rules or "pack your bags and go home".

Ever since Inzamam, the captain, and Miandad, the coach, revealed that they hadn't been consulted about the choices made by Aamir Sohail for the squad for the forthcoming New Zealand series, there has been an uproar. Inzamam and Miandad were reported to be livid about their snub from Sohail, who publicly criticised the performance of the coach on TV commentary.

However, in an attempt to bring the feud to an end, Lt Tauqir Zia, the PCB chairman, today said in a statement: "I am utterly disappointed with a series of statements issued by the team officials and the chief selector. I am sad that such big names of cricket representing a responsible organization have indulged in mud-slinging."

He continued: "I have met all the four officials and have conveyed my disappointment to them. I have warned them that the PCB will not tolerate any further statements from them against each other. They have also been informed that the PCB will be forced to ask them to pack their bags and go home if any further statements are attributed to them. They have been advised to sort out their problems in the PCB offices rather than going to the press and making a mockery of their status and stature."

A PCB spokesman added that as far as they're concerned, the case is closed and they will not make any further statements on this issue.

Meanwhile, Shoaib was reprimanded for criticising the ICC and the PCB in an interview in a local Urdu newspaper. On that matter, the same spokesman said: "He has been told in no uncertain terms to refrain from statements that are against the ICC and PCB policies." The board did, however, did later receive an apology from Shoaib.

Other matters discussed in the two-day meeting included a review of the Bangladesh and South African series and the management of the forthcoming one-day international series against New Zealand - which is now under threat due to security reasons. They also discussed the tour of New Zealand, the junior teams to go to India and Bangladesh, the hosting of the Asia Cup, India's tour to Pakistan, and the domestic competitions.

Ramiz Raja, the chief executive, said a proposed itinerary had been sent to the Indian board consisting of three Tests and seven ODIs, with the venues yet to be decided. It was also revealed that Pakistan would bid to host next year's Asia Cup, even though Bangladesh have currently got the rights to hold the competition.

Ramiz said: "We will bid for the tournament to be organized in April and May. We have decided to bid for the tournament after New Delhi allowed BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) to resume cricket activities with and in Pakistan.

It was also decided that the probables for next year's Under-19 World Cup and the Pakistan A team's tour to India in December will be announced on Monday.