da realsbet： Lt Gen Tauqir Zia has refused to step down as chairman of the PakistanCricket Board (PCB) in the wake of recent controversies and depressingperformances of the national team
Samiul Hasan22-May-2001Lt Gen Tauqir Zia has refused to step down as chairman of the PakistanCricket Board (PCB) in the wake of recent controversies and depressingperformances of the national team. Ironically except for, Majid Khan,who completed his tenure every other Pakistan cricket chief was eitherkicked out or forced to quit.The general, who was taken aback by the question at the NationalStadium, said: “I don’t think I am ready to accept the defeat. “If thedecision (to resign) is left to me, I will only leave after I dosomething for the system.”The query came after the cricket team plunged rock-bottom at Lord’sSunday where they lost by an innings and nine runs inside three days.The defeat raised concerns and created uproar in the cricket circleswith critics and followers of the game demanding for heads to roll.Before the Lord’s defeat, Pakistan cricket was engulfed in wideranging controversies which led to the sacking of Javed Miandad ascoach and Moin Khan as captain following the disastrous tour of NewZealand in March.”Those who have appointed me, have the powers to remove me. They knowbetter what they have to do. I don’t have to tell them what they haveto do,” the general told newsmen Monday. Pakistan has had threecaptains and as many coaches in the last 18 months. Unfortunately, theappointees are changed but people making the decisions have not beenshown the door. Nevertheless, the general refused to put the blame onhis men.”If the accountability has to be done, it should be mine because if mypeople (advisors) are making wrong decisions, then I am responsiblefor their decisions. “In any case, they are not the decision-makers,but I am. In my opinion, if the PCB has taken some decisions regardingthe coaches and others, they are in the best interest of the game. “Iam providing them (players) all the resources. Now it is upto them howto utilize the facilities.”Tauqir said neither he nor his board was feeling the pressure despitethree series’ losses out of five since he took over in late1999.”These are the best players we have. We require time to train theyoungsters.”The general admitted that he was disappointed with the Lord’s resultlike the rest of the country. But added that it could have been a badday for the Pakistan team.”I think their team composition was wrong. Then their body languagedidn’t look good. I don’t know what was in the minds of the coach andcaptain that prompted them to sideline Mushtaq Ahmad or SaqlainMushtaq.”Until I talk to them, I can’t comment on the reasons behind fieldingfirst and then bowling short of length. But I am optimistic that whenthey will play the second Test, they will keep these factors in mind,”Tauqir said.Tauqir refused to accept that Pakistan were now languishing at thebottom of international cricket. “I don’t think were are at the bottomof the table. I believe these are our off days and things willimprove.”According to the latest Test rankings issued Pakistan are placed onlyabove Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. He, however, said whenever a team ispassing through a transition and rebuilding phase, it struggles. Hecited the examples of Australia in the 80s and now the West Indies.When pointed out Pakistan fielded an all-star frontline players,Tauqir asked: “Do you really think they are your frontline players?”Frontline players are upto a limit. After that stage, the performanceof every player deteriorates. But now it is time to induct youngplayers, but I don’t know why they (tour management) didn’t try them.”Wasim Akram, who went into the Test with 409 Test wickets, picked uptwo for 99 whereas Waqar Younis conceded 77 for his two wickets. SaeedAnwar had scored of 12 and 8 while Inzamam-ul-Haq could score only 13and 20.Tauqir said he has appointed English-born South Africa-based RichardPybus as coach only for two months. He said his contract would only berenewed after analyzing the performance of the team in England.The PCB boss also hinted that Javed Miandad might return to coach thePakistan cricket team. “Javed was never removed. He himself asked toget out for a while. I cannot really say immediately if he will beback as coach.”The decision to reappoint Javed will be mine but I will first ask(from Javed) what he wants,” he said.The PCB boss said the preparation of the audit report was in the finalstages and should be finalized by June end.