PCB scrutiny report can be contested

Islamabad, Sept 29: The release of the PCB scrutiny report has created an uproar in the capital as the Islamabad Cricket Association (ICA) termed the details as "challengeable".

The report has upheld documents of 26 clubs and has also given them voting rights. It also includes Azam Club which participated in the qualifying round held for playing rights, besides PTCL, NHA has also been given voting rights.

ICA has approached the PCB with the argument that the clubs (Services, Jinnah, Najamul Hassan, Shalimar, Photohar Gymkhana, Shaheen) declared active during 1995 and 1997 scrutinies, have been declared bogus due to clash of interest of the PCB appointed convener who also has a club in Islamabad which was given voting rights.

ICA officials maintain that on numerous occasions in the past, ICA informed the PCB of its apprehensions about the appointment of the convener who is settling personal scores.

Among the 19 clubs declared bogus, Jinnah Club is headed by Zahid Mehmood who is also the president of ICA.

Besides, it was stated that Najamul Hassan Club declared bogus has four under-19 players representing ICA during the ongoing championship, these are captain ICA Aqeel Mukhtar, Sohail Aftab, Anwarul Haq and Sohail Khan.

Meanwhile, Punjab Club and Asif Memorial have hailed the scrutiny report of PCB and have called upon the board to hold early elections. The officebearers of these clubs maintained that the present ICA has failedto work for the promotion of cricket in the capital and are relying on bogus vote-bank to keep their positions in the association. They said that the ICA officials have victimised their players in the past and are continuing to follow that policy.