ISLAMABAD - The National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination meeting Wednesday witnessed war of words between Pakistan Cricket Board executive committee chairman Najam Sethi and Iqbal M Khan.
The meeting of National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) was held under the chair of MNA Abdul Qahar Khan Wadan at Committee Room number 7, Parliament House.
The war of words started with a question raised by Iqbal, who sought a reply from Sethi regarding the journalists, who were sent by the PCB to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and he also mentioned that most of them took travel allowance without going to UAE. Sethi denied allegations and offered Rs 500,000 cash award, if Iqbal Khan proved these allegations.
Iqbal then raised another question about the drafting process of the second edition of the PSL in UAE, which according to him should have been held in Pakistan to save the board’s money. On this, Sethi replied that it was not possible to organise drafting in Pakistan as international players were not available.
The PSL head also made it clear that he had no lust of international tours and also offered the standing committee members to visit the PCB headquarters in Lahore, saying, “we are trying to make the PSL limited company.” On this, Iqbal said Sethi was trying to cement his job in the PCB, that’s he was trying to make the PSL limited company.
Sethi also informed the house that in the past England tours, a lot of controversies were witnessed, but thankfully, this time it was a completely successful and free of controversies. “The players and team management were given special directives in this regard, that’s why their behaviour was excellent and English media was full of praise of Pakistani players.”
When the question of Danish Kaneria ban was raised, Sethi said he was the voice of depressed class and no one, other than him, favoured minorities in Pakistan. MNA Ramesh Kumar said: “Danish is alone Hindu cricketer in Pakistani team and it sends a very negative message to international community to keep him away from cricket.” Sethi replied it was not the PCB, which banned Danish but it was English Cricket Board, which banned him and all the cricket boards had to accept this decision. All the appeals made by Danish were turned down.
Sethi further informed the committee that when he took the PCB affairs, the then chief selector Iqbal Qasim informed him there was no dearth of talent in the country but there was a need to unearth such talent, groom them and get the best out of them. “We made a comprehensive plan in this regard and gave maximum chances to the youngsters, the results of which are evident.”
On a question of players’ push-ups and salutes after the century or match victory, Sethi termed the question quite sensitive and said: “We have banned players from push-ups. Misbah showed his fitness level after completing century through push-ups, which other players also followed. The players had done that because they trained with Pakistani army, but now this process has been stopped.”
Sethi said everybody wanted to play cricket, that’s why they including selection committee, were under enormous pressure from different quarters to select the players. “It happens only in Pakistan, as no other cricket playing country face such situation. I can present biter and harsh inside things during the camera briefing.”
Sethi further informed the house that Ireland team had given go ahead to tour Pakistan, but he was stopped from inviting Ireland team to Pakistan in the name of security. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif assured him foolproof security, which later was declined by PM Nawaz Sharif. He was off the view that the standing committee was not aware of some harsh realities. “The PM showed his serious concerns regarding providing security to the visiting international teams and was of the view that any unfortunate incident could spell disaster for Pakistan and advised me to delay international teams’ arrival for a certain period.”
About PCB officials foreign tours, Sethi said: “Chief selector and others request PCB for foreign tours, as chief selector’s presence is essential at the venue. I am the most unpopular person in the PCB, VIP and VVIP tickets cost PCB millions and inquiry against former chairman is still going on regarding purchasing of Rs 4 million free passes. Media backs players not the PCB. We have requested not to demand free tickets from the PCB.”
About PSL, Sethi said: “We are working very hard to ensure the PSL final in Lahore. We are in negotiations with 6 to 7 teams. Corps Commander Karachi had given me confidence to arrange international matches, as he will take care of security, but international players’ association doesn’t support us. Foreign players’ insurance premium is too costly to afford for us.”
Interestingly, only cricket dominated the entire standing committee proceedings and there was no time left for other sports and agendas and it was decided to take up remaining issues in next committee meeting.