Wasim retained as captain for entire international season

Karachi, Sept 29: Wasim Akram was retained as Pakistan captain for the entire 1999-2000 international season, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ad hoc committee Mujeeb-ur-Rehman said here on Wednesday.

Mujeeb also announced Moin Khan as his deputy for the season in which Pakistan will play Tests against Australia (three), West Indies (three) and Sri Lanka (six). Besides, Pakistan will also play a triangular series in Sharjah, Australia and West Indies.

He said the ad hoc committee made the decision in the background of Pakistan's performance under Wasim Akram's leadership.

"The tours of Australia and the West Indies will be very demanding. And the ad hoc committee is convinced that only Wasim Akram is the man who can lead from the front and help the team win the two series', never achieved in the past," he said.

Under Wasim Akram, Pakistan this year drew the two-Test series with India in India, won the Asian Test Championship, triangular series in India and Sharjah, reached the final of the World Cup and finally white-washed the West Indies in Toronto.

"Wasim and Moin make an ideal combination and we are not ready to bring changes for the sake of change. Our objective is to see Pakistan be the best team in the world and these two men are capable of fulfilling that ambition," he said.

Akram, who later arrived for the opening ceremony of the cricket academy, said he was delighted.

"Every time I am entrusted with the job, I feel delighted. I think I am matured enough to lead Pakistan to victories in Australia and then the West Indies which has never happened in the past.

"And reason for my success is that every player gives me his best. I feel proud to captain the team which has immense talent and world class players," he remarked.

Mujeeb, when asked that the judicial commission is yet to submit its findings to President Mohammad Rafiq Tarar, said the recommendations of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum will be respected.

Mujeeb also defend his decision to suspend Wasim alongwith Ijaz Ahmad and Salim Malik and later reinstating them.

"I suspended the three players and I am the one who lifted the suspension. But what I wanted to achieve from it, I have achieved." He, however, did not elaborate what was the objective behind the suspension of three players.

Replying to a question whether Wasim Akram will have say in the selection committee because of the importance of the tours, Mujeeb said Wasim was always taken into confidence and that would continue.

"We have a team which believes in discussion and unanimous selection. Whoever will be selected, will be picked on merit, requirement of the team and with the consultation of the skipper though the selectors will be the final authority," Mujeeb said.

Mujeeb said the players will be awarded fresh and improved contracts for the 1999-2000 season before the team embarks for Sharjah.

He said the new contracts will be lucrative with fees of the players to be increased three times what they are getting now. "Besides, every player will get a single room whether in Pakistan or on tour."

He, however, said it has not been decided whether spouses of the players would be allowed to travel with the team.

He also announced that previous management's promise for awarding cash awards will be duly honoured. "The players will get what has been promised with them. All the promises will hopefully be honoured before they leave for Sharjah," he said.

FLOODLIGHTS AT NATIONAL STADIUM:

National Stadium will be equipped with floodlights which will be installed before the arrival of the Sri Lanka team next year in March-April.

Mujeeb said the discussions have been finalized and the contract will be signed in the next 10 days. He refused to reveal the expenses involved.

"We want that the lights should be of international standard. Television requirement will be kept in mind while the lights are installed."

He said as soon as floodlights are installed at Karachi, the cricket board will ensure that Peshawar's Arbab Niaz Stadium also has the same facility.

"It might take sometime there because huge expenses are involved but Arbab Niaz Stadium will the third centre where lights will be fixed," he assured.

STADIA TO BE TAKEN ON LEASE:

The ad hoc committee has planned to take four Test centres on lease so that they can become be properly maintained by the PCB administration.

Mujeeb said he has already applied for lease for Iqbal Stadium (Faisalabad), Qasim Bagh ground (Multan), Pindi Cricket Stadium (Rawalpindi) and Arbab Niaz Stadium (Peshawar).

"They are full fledged Test centres. But they needed is their upgrading and renovation. Besides, the cricket board will also increase its assets by having grounds of its own," he said.

DISPUTE WITH KCCA:

Mujeeb said he wanted to promote and flourish the sport in Karachi with the assistance of the KCCA.

"I believe that Karachi is 80% of Pakistan and we (PCB) have to provide all possible help to the KCCA to uplift the game here. But for that we need the support of the KCCA officials which we are not getting at the moment," he said.

Mujeeb said he was ready to compromise with the KCCA and added that the association president Nusrat Azeem had agreed to having scrutiny of clubs done.

"I told him (Nusrat Azeem) that the KCCA would be restored as soon as the scrutiny committee gives go-ahead. I had also offered them that scrutiny of clubs can begin from Karachi so that everything returns to peace here.

"But I think he is being misled by his advisors as the KCCA want that the issue to be decided by the honourable court."

DEFENDS LOGO:

Mujeeb defended the new logo of the Pakistan team saying it has been introduced as a change.

He said the logo is being criticised for the sake of criticism and urged the critics to look it into a better prospective.

He defended the removing of the `star' saying that in international competitions like Olympics, Asian Games and SAF Games, the athletes don't use the `star' on their blazers but just the country flag.

"A change is difficult to digest but I am flexible. But I sincerely want the logo to stay," he said.