LAHORE - Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has said that heavyweights are the real financial burden on the PCB and there is a dire need of downsizing in the board.

Talking to Waqt TV during its programme ‘Game Beat’, Shaharyar said: “The heavyweights in the PCB are real financial burden on the board as they do nothing for its betterment but keep on withdrawing hefty amounts besides enjoying huge perks and privileges, while on the other hand, the low-level employees do their job with sincerity but when it comes to downsizing, they are sacked immediately without any second though but such moves couldn’t prove financially good for the PCB.”

When Shaharyar Khan was the PCB chairman, he never withdraw salary from the board as he wanted the low-level staff to get their due rights. “The PCB chairman post must be honorary and he must not withdraw any salary from the board. Instead that salary must be utilized for the welfare of the PCB low-level staffers, who work day in day out for the betterment and progress of the board.”

Shaharyar said that technocrats must be taken onboard to take important decisions about Pakistan cricket. “The former cricketers can give better suggestions for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. In my tenure, Misbah-ul-Haq and Younus Khan were included in the governing board, but their expertise were utilized only for the suggestions and important decisions. I think they must be given free hand to take some more important decisions which may improve Pakistan cricket at domestic level and then at international level.”

About Sarfraz and its captaincy during the New Zealand series, Shaharyar said that during the Kiwis series, Sarfraz seemed under pressure. “Sarfraz couldn’t perform with bat during the series so it added further pressure on him, which affected his captaincy, and he couldn’t deliver as good captain. But later, with team work and collective efforts, Pakistan succeeded in winning the T20 series and also earned honour of becoming No 1 Twenty20 team.

“For the time being, there is no replacement of Sarfraz Ahmad, and according to my opinion, Sarfraz must be retained as captain of all the three formats till upcoming World Cup. After World Cup, the PCB can rethink about new captain, if Sarfraz failed to deliver,” he added.

The former PCB chief lamented that most of the regional heads just focus on including their favourite players in the teams instead of inducting players on merit, which is the main reason behind domestic cricket downfall. “Until and unless, the former cricketers are not involved at regional cricket level, it is too tough to bring betterment at grass-root level and Pakistan domestic cricket will keep on suffering.”

Lauding the efforts of Najam Sethi as PCB chairman, Shaharyar said: “Najam Sethi is an excellent administrator, who is running the PCB and PSL affairs in a befitting manner. There is always room for the improvement, so I think Sethi will certainly look into those matters, which can create hurdles in smooth running of PCB and PSL affairs.”