ISLAMABAD - The National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Monday expressed its anger over Pakistan Cricket Board’s Chairman Shahryar M Khan and Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed’s non-participation.

The meeting was held under its chairman Abdul Qahar Wadan while IPC Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Secretary Raja Nadir Ali, Joint Secretary Tipu Mahabat Khan, members Rana Muhammad Afzal, Sardar Shafqat Hayat Khan, Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan, Saeed Ahmed Mehness,, Muhammad Arshad Khan LAghari, , Begum Tahira Bokhari, Sabiha NAzeer, Aftab Shaban Mirani, Dr Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto, Mujahid Ali, Siraj Muhammad Khan, Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan, Maulana Amir Zaman, DG PSb Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera, PHF Secretary Olympian Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, PCB official Shamas and others attended the meeting.

All the attendants of the meeting congratulated Pakistan cricket team upon their remarkable victory against England in the Lords Test. They highly praised skipper Miabah, Yasir Shah, Asad Shafiq and Rahat Ali and hoped the team would continue its winning streak in the remaining matches as well. Irked by the absence of any senior PCB official in the meeting, the committee also asked the PCB to submit detailed report on foreign tours of its officials.

The committee also directed the PCB to submit degrees of its two of employees Usman Wahla and Naila Bhatti. The meeting recommended that dailies of hockey players should be given substantial raise with immediate effect.

Rana Afzal suggested explanation must be sought from PCB chairman and others for not attending the meeting. He also questioned the purpose of the PCB officials’ presence in England and asked when foreign teams tour Pakistan whether they also bring chairman’s and others on tour or not?

Iqbal Muhammad Ali informed the house that Najam Sethi enjoys all the powers in the PCB and demanded that Pakistan Super League accounts audit should be conducted. He also demanded that the PCB GM International Usman Wahla and director marketing Naila Bhati’s degrees details should be presented. He also pointed out that PCB Director Media Agha Akbar got injured in London in mysterious conditions. He also termed the PCB’s protocol officer’s briefing to the committee as an insult to the committee. Sradar Shahfqat Hayat Khan suggested why not next meeting of the committee should be held in London?

PCB official Shamas informed the committee that PCB Chairman attended ICC meeting in London and asked the committee to set date of next meeting by the end of this month so that chairman and others could attend. Another controversy also erupted during the meeting as MQM MNA Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan staged walk out from the meeting over questionable remarks passed by IPC Minister Mian Riaz Hussain against MQM.

IPC Minister Pirzada highly objectionable remarks against MQM and termed them responsible for pelting stones in National Stadium Karachi and held them responsible for destroying cricket in Karachi. Iqbal, who was not present in the meeting by that time, e asked Mian Riaz to repeat same remarks in front of him and dare to say what he had quoted against his party during his absence.

He said it was unethical to pass on remarks in one’s absence. He then staged walkout to protest against Mian Riaz. But Parliamentary secretary for Finance Rana Afzal and MNA Muhamamd Arshad Khan Laghari immediately went after Iqbal and managed to bring him back in the meeting. Mian Riaz immediately apologised to Iqbal and issue was resolved. The meeting sought detailed special audit report about expenditures of the PHF from 2008-2013 and 2013-2016, but IPC Minister said audit report could only be discussed in front of Public Accounts Committee and they can’t discuss that at any other forum. Rana Afzal suggested hockey players should be given fixed allowance as giving money could invite auditors reservations and the PHF had to make rules in this regard. Shahbaz Senior informed the committee that $150 daily allowance is given to players while federation is bearing their accommodation and travelling expenses and officials take Rs 25,000 daily allowance during foreign tour. He assured rules and regulations would be made within next two weeks. Rana Shafqat Hayat Khan asked Shahbaz to complete rules till the next meeting and also asked the federation $150 dailies are not worth taking for hockey players and the federation must give hefty raise and players must be given same perks and privileges, which officials are getting.

Rana Afazal suggested a proper advertisement should be given in newspapers and televisions for air tickets for foreign tours to cut down extra expenditures and make entire process transparent. Sabiha Nazeer informed the meeting that junior team left for Germany and people had raised eye-brows over selection criteria. Shahbaz, while counting his services to the country and achievements, replied that the PHF always ensure merit for selection while Nadra help also sought for age verification.

Rana Iqbal said Shahbaz’ presence in the PHF hives surety that merit will prevail in all areas. He also pointed out that a section of press quoted three football players were travelling with the team and why notice is not taken by the IPC. Mian Riaz informed the house that Football Federation issue is pending in the court and they would make amendments in the PFF rules after fresh elections.

DG PSB informed that a local club of Punjab was going on foreign tour, who didn’t sought permission from the PSB and they have nothing to do with them, so hecan’t comment on that.

DG PSB also gave detailed briefing to the committee and informed that Planning Division had allocated Rs 500 million for different projects and allocated Rs 50 million for laying down Astroturf at Qazi Mohib Hockey Stadium, Bannu and other hockey stadiums in the country. When Moulana Amir Zaman pointed out that Rs 450 million funds were allocated for only Narowal Sports Complex construction, while only Rs 50 million for other projects is not fair, Sardar Shafqat Hayat suggested amendments should be made and the voice should be raised on assembly floor in this regard as well.