Pending work puts PCB in hot soup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) faces race against time with the Asian Test Championship and the series against New Zealand just round the corner. With barely 16 days left before Pakistan face Bangladesh in the championship opener , which will also kick off a strenuous home season, the PCB officials have yet to unlock the drawers full of pending files.

While the title sponsorship and television rights to be decided by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) later this week, the continent's game's governing body has categorically said the host boards will be responsible for hosting matches. But until Monday, the PCB officials have yet to decide the event manager and circulate media accreditation forms.

Not only the scribes have been inquiring from the experienced but snail-paced battalion of PCB media relation officers, foreign journalists communications have remained unfruitful. It may be mentioned here that immediately after the Bangladesh Test, India are to play their first Test in Pakistan in 12 years, pending clearance from their government. The match is scheduled at Lahore from Sept 12.

The New Zealand series begins immediately after the Indians return home. Several Bangladesh and Indian mediamen have approached their Pakistani counterparts and also the PCB officials. But they have not been given any satisfactory answer.

"Whether India comes or not, we have to be ready and need to complete our travel formalities," a worried Indian newsman said from Kolkata. It is expected that at least half a dozen Bangladesh and around two dozen Indian journalists are to visit Pakistan for the two Tests.

Khalid Butt told anxious city scribes that as soon as the PCB decided on the event managers and the title sponsors, accreditation forms will be issued. Source close to the PCB said talks with experienced BBCL (event managers) on Monday remained inclusive. Sources further added that it was no longer a one horse race as Prestige, Interflow and Events Unlimited have also joined the fray for the lucrative contract.

The PCB has yet to prepare media guide, season annual and other relevant material, a practice religiously followed worldover, which is provided to the newsmen before the beginning of every season. With the PCB secretariat crowded with people, elementary and basic issues are not handled professionally. And when the media reports them, they are accused of triggering controversies. The question is who is creating controversies? Media or the PCB?

Besides, the PCB has yet to finalize its decision on Richard Pybus as the establishment claims that the England-born South Africa based coach has agreed in principle but was demanding an exorbitant package. In addition to this, the PCB has yet to announce the New Zealand Test series sponsors.