Addressing a crowded Press conference at the Qadhafi Stadium on Monday, Mr Khalid Mahmood gave details of the steps taken to put Pakistani cricket on sound footing. He said that sponsorship would also be acquired to improve infra-structure of the game in all parts of the country. That would facilitate in improving condition of grounds and stadia and providing modern equipment for holding Tests, one-day international matches and first-class games in a befitting manner.
``Obviously, our top priority is to build a strong Pakistan senior side for the seventh World Cricket Cup to be organised in England next year. However, we cannot lose sight of making efforts in different directions without any delay'', said the PCB chairman while replying to a question from this reporter.
Giving details of steps taken by the PCB, Mr Khalid Mahmood said that a fitness camp held at Lahore under former Test opener Mohsin Hasan Khan during sweltering heat of Lahore should help the Pakistani cricketers a lot. They have been also given programmes to continue physical training individually and keep themselves in top condition for tough matches to be held during the heavy 1998-99 season.
``For the first time, the former Test and first-class cricketers from all over Pakistan have been coached to train the aspiring players. We will continue to hold high-level clinics every year'', said the PCB chairman.
While replying to a question, Mr Khalid Mahmood said that he was deliberating over establishing an independent umpiring body which should be able to groom the Pakistani umpires and also supervise their posting for the domestic cricket competitions. He said that he was sending a proposal to the International Cricket Council (ICC) for establishment of an international umpiring committee, which should be totally independent, and be empowered topost umpires for the Tests andlimited-overone-dayinternationals. ``That body must adopt a system of demotion and promotion of umpires on merit after assessing their performance on the field. Without adopting that system, complaints of bad umpiring cannot be minimised. That will also give exposure to umpires from countries like Pakistan'', emphasised Mr Khalid Mahmood while replying to a question about complaints against the Pakistani umpire Javed Akhtar.
Dilating on subject of improving facilities in Pakistan, the PCB chairman said that Hafiz Manzoor Husain's development committee, which included Yar Mohammad Solangi, Basharat Shafi, Waseem, Javed Qamar and Shafqat Naghmi was surveyingall important centre. He said that besides improving other facilities in stadia, pitches would be upgraded, proper covers would be provided and absorbent rollers would be procured so that matches could be resumed without much delay even after heavy rains.
Mr Khalid Mahmood said that he was grappling with the problem of litigation among groups of organisers in various parts of the country. He hoped to sort out the matters soon.
The PCB chairman said that the captains and management of the teams were being fully empowered to root out indiscipline.
Mr Khalid Mahmood said that arbitration from Mr N. P. K. Salveabout accounts of thePakistan-India-Lanka-Committee (PILCOM) was nearing completion and if there was no more litigation among the warring parties, Pakistan would get its share of money latest by the first week of September.
The PCB chairman said that he had set aside the judgment of Scrutiny Committee about the dispute of women's cricket in Pakistan, realising that that did not take into account all necessary facts.
Mr Khalid Mahmood asserted that probe into allegations of betting and match-fixing against certain players had been initiated on his insistence and should be completed within a few months. A judicial commission in the supervision of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum had been constituted which should complete the probe.