Selection not possible sans Butt's nod: Mohsin

ISLAMABAD Pakistan cricket chief selector Mohsin Hasan Khan on Tuesday told the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports that he did not have the powers to announce the national team without the permission of the chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The Chairman Standing Committee on Sports Iqbal Mohammad Khan presided over the meeting that was also attended by MNAs Syed Anayat Shah, Begum Nasim Akhtar Chaudhary, Ramesh Lal, Begum Parveen Masood Bhatti, Chaudhary Saud Majeed, Syed Tayyab Hussain and Muzaffar-ul-Mulk. Later, Begum Nasim Akhtar Chaudhary and Ramesh Lal left the House without completing the proceeding. The members of committee, who had announced to resign if Ijaz Butt did not quit PCB, did not attend the committee meeting. Iqbal Mohammad Khan told reporters after the meeting that the members who had announced to resign, did not attend the meeting. If they resigned, I would also submit my resignation with them, he said. Earlier, Mohsin informed the Committee that he wanted to work in the board with the consultation of his colleagues. I have authority to overrule any decision of the selection committee but I also take all the members in confidence before taking any decision, he said. He confessed that he did not contact the captain and the coach before announcing the national cricket team for UAE tour. The captain was not announced and coach was abroad and Ijaz Butt had asked me to finalise the team for overseas trip, he said. On this occasion, national coach Waqar Younas viewed that if selection committee did not consult the skipper and the coach, then the committee should also share the responsibility of poor performance. The selection committee neglected the captain and coach many times in the past, he said. We selected the best lot for the next tour and we have to submit our team in time for completing other travel documents. Chairman PCB Ijaz Butt asked me to finalise the team and I did. I have no authority to decide the squad without the consent of chairman, he added. The Committee also directed Chief Operating Officer (COO) Wasim Bari to settle the issue of Younus Khan. The Committee will ask Younus to contact the board and settle the issue for sake of cricket, said Iqbal Mohammad Ali. Earlier, former manager, Yawar Saeed said that Mazhar Majeed and Azhar Majeed were in contact with the national players for 10 years. However, a manager could not interfere in the personal lives of players. We can observe them during the match and in hotel but not in their private activities, he added. He also informed the House that would submitted his report to the PCB. I am preparing report about England tour and that will be handed over the board in next week, he said. The members of the committee showed their displeasure on the delay and said with the manager report, the PCB announced the team for next tour and this was not an appreciable act. The report should also be submitted in the committee, said a member of the committee.