Cricket is Life: Zaheer Abbas keen to head Pakistan Cricket Board

Criticising incumbent Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt for his poor administrative policies, former captain Zaheer Abbas has expressed his desire to head the PCB if he was asked to do so. Abbas said when Butt took over as PCB chairman two years back, he personally had high expectations from him but the veteran administrator turned out to be a big "disappointment".

"He (Butt) has disappointed in many ways. There are calls for changes and if anyone does approach me to head the board I will accept it as a challenge since Pakistan cricket has given me a lot," Abbas said on Wednesday. Lamenting the state of affairs in Pakistan cricket, the former Test captain said that it was unfortunate to witness ICC and its member boards' lack of confidence in PCB.

"The situation we find ourselves now is because the ICC is taking all decisions by itself regarding Pakistani players. The PCB needs to take damage control steps like improving communication with other boards to restore confidence," Abbas said. He said it would have been an ideal for the PCB to utilise the ongoing Pakistan-South Africa series in the UAE to invite the heads of different boards for every match as a diplomatic measure.

"No one likes criticism and that is also the case with the PCB. At times criticism from former players and media may be a bit harsh but it is also true that criticism only comes when there is something wrong somewhere," Abbas said. He pointed out that due to poor administration, Pakistan cricket had reached a stage where the selectors have to take clearance from the ICC to finalise their preliminary World Cup squad.

"It is clear that the PCB and its selectors have to seek clearance from the ICC for the World Cup players," he noted. Zaheer also said that a lot of injustice had been done meted upon former captain Younus Khan, who made a strong comeback to the national team with a hundred in the first Test at Dubai on Tuesday.

"Lot of injustice was done with Younus but I am glad he has replied with his bat like a world class player by making a hundred," he said. He said that he had no doubt Pakistan had lot of talent but the recent scandals and controversies had hurt it badly.

"No matter what anyone might say but it is a fact that when they are so many controversies going around, when there is indiscipline and poor administration it will affect the players mentally and they will never be able to give their 100 per cent on the field," Abbas added.