Tauqir discusses formation of advisory panel

Lahore, Dec 21: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ad hoc committee chairman Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia held a meeting with former Pakistan captains Javed Miandad and Ramiz Hasan Raja here on Tuesday and discussed the proposal of formation of an advisory panel.

The advisory council, having the powers of selection of the team, coaching and control on the domestic cricket, will be formed in a couple of days, the PCB chairman told mediamen after holding the meeting with the former Test stars.

Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia said that more cricketers would be consulted before constituting the council. Former Test wicket-keeper batsman Imtiaz Ahmad had also been called to give his opinion. He will meet the chairman on Wednesday.

He said that the advisory council members would watch matches of the domestic cricket before selecting the team, inspect the condition of the grounds and stadia and suggest for their upgradation.

He said that little master Hanif Mohammad and former pacer Sarfraz Nawaz would not be included in the council. However, their suggestions would be welcomed.

He said the PCB would ask the ICC to dispatch the cassettes of Muttiah Muralitharan and Courtney Walsh because the board wanted to compare their bowling actions with Pakistani bowler Shoaib Akhtar before pleading the case.

He said that the PCB would also present the case about paceman Shabbir Ahmad who is also facing the same allegation.

Presently the bowler was improving his bowling action, he added.

Shoaib Akhtar on Tuesday joined the national camp, which started here on Dec 15. He was in England. The camp is in progress to prepare Pakistan team for the forthcoming tri-nation cricket tournament starting in Australia from Jan 9.

The PCB chairman said that Shoaib Akhtar was in London for the treatment of his shoulder.

However, team coach Intikhab Alam said that according to his knowledge the bowler was quite fit and went to England for domestic works.

The PCB chairman, in the presence of Intikhab Alam, held a detailed meeting with Shoaib Akhtar. The details of which could not be revealed.

Intikhab said that he was ready to face the Australian press on Shoaib Akhtar's issue during the coming Australian tour. The team is fit and the camp is scheduled to end on Dec 25, he added.