The constitution of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was discussed at length by the Sports and Culture Committee of the National Assembly in Islamabad on Saturday.

The Chairman of the PCB, Khalid Mahmood and Chief Executive Majid Khan also attended the meeting besides former Chief Executive Arif Abbasi and former Chief Selector Hasib Ahsan.

According to informed sources, the National Assembly sub-committee was informed about the constitution and the working of the cricket board including the formation of the General Body and the Council and powers of the two bodies. The PCB officials also informed the committee how the domestic cricket system works, including the selection of the players. Discussions were also held about what changes should be made in the PCB constitution but no immediate recommendations were sought.

The National Assembly sub-committee also inquired from the cricket board as to how Wasim Akram was not included in the original squad and the controversy surrounding him relating to match-fixing and betting.

Sources said the PCB officials informed the committee that Akram had been dropped on fitness grounds and was told to join the team immediately after he confirmed his availability. Relating to match-fixing, the board officials said investigations were on and as soon as they received any concrete evidence, the guilty players would be punished.

The sub-committee also sought explanation on the ouster of Salim Malik to which the board officials said the player had been left out because of his attitude problem. The PCB officials, however, said the doors had not been shut for Malik.

Arif Abbasi, who was the Chief Executive when three Australian players accused Salim Malik of offering bribe, informed the committee that thorough investigations were held by none other than the Supreme Court Judge, (Retd) Fakhruddin G Ebraheem. Abbasi briefed the committee in detail about those proceedings and the Judge's decision after the Australians refused to travel to Pakistan to prove their allegations.

Hasib Ahsan, in his speech, was critical of the working of the cricket board. He stressed for the democratisation of the cricket board saying that the nomination of the cricket board officials by the Patron was wrong. He criticised the chief executive and his decisions.

The National Assembly sub-committee said the PCB officials will be invited for another meeting shortly.