Tauqir Zia might stay on for India series

Tauqir Zia: is he in or is he out? © Wisden Cricinfo

Despite his resignation on Monday, which is due to take effect on December 14, Lt-Gen. Tauqir Zia, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, might continue in the role until next April.

An article in Pakistan's News newspaper claims that Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf wants Tauqir to remain in place until then, to ensure that the high-profile series against India goes ahead without any hitches.

"The feeling is that with such an important series coming up it would be difficult for the new chairman to set things in motion for the India series," the newspaper quotes an unnamed source as saying. "The advantage with Tauqir is that he has been around for four years and his team of administrators have done a successful job organising the home series against Bangladesh, South Africa and New Zealand.

"The idea was also that since Tauqir had been dealing with the Indian cricket officials for some time now he could communicate better with them."

What is certain is that there has been confusion within the PCB in the immediate aftermath of Tauqir's resignation. Yesterday, rumours circulated that Rameez Raja, the PCB's chief executive, had stepped down too, and he had to issue an official denial. "I have not resigned," he said. "The chairman has not asked anyone in the board to resign or anything like that."

But it might just be a temporary reprieve for Rameez. The local newspapers are full of speculation as to the reason behind Tauqir's decision, and many say that without his support, Rameez is doomed. "His [Tauqir's] dependence on one man, Rameez Raja, wearing five hats, and an average Test player, earned him a bad name," wrote Rehan Siddiqui in Dawn. "Engaging dozens of foreign coaches allegedly at the behest of Rameez for astronomical remunerations brought bitter criticism from every quarter."