In a far reaching press conference Pakistan Cricket Board officials have revealed their thoughts on what went wrong in New Zealand and the continuing controversy of the 'leaked' manager's report. They also announced a change of role for Javed Miandad as well as plans for a central contract system and a new fielding coach.

Javed Miandad and PCB Chairman at 03 April post New Zealand Tour press conference Photo © CricInfo

The Chairman of the PCB, General Tauqir Zia, has once again denied that excerpts from the team manager's report were leaked to the press, dismissing the Dawn report as a fake. The General was addressing a press conference at the Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore, which was also attended by Faqir Aizazuddin, the Manager of the team on the New Zealand tour, Javed Miandad, the coach, and Wasim Bari, the chief selector.

General Tauqir Zia Photo © CricInfo

Claiming the 'sacredness' of the Manager's report, the chairman said that it is a confidential document, which cannot in any circumstances be divulged to the press. He added, "it is a million dollar question how the report got leaked, if at all it did?"

The Chairman stated that the full text of the report is being typed, and being a lengthy subject the process will take seven days. However, he revealed that Mr. Aizazuddin had read out the salient points of the report before the members of the PCB Advisory Council this morning, and commented: "I assure you that there is nothing in it which matches with what the press published in the name of the report."

The deposed coach – Javed Miandad Photo © CricInfo

Supporting the PCB Chairman's stance Mr. Aizazuddin held that he had not issued any report to the press. He said, "if there is an existence of such a report, it does not bear my signatures." Replying to a query regarding any legal action against the concerned periodical, he said that it was your (the media's) responsibility to thoroughly investigate the matter. "My conscience is crystal clear, and I do not feel the need to take the matter to the court," he said.

Javed Miandad, the deposed coach, answering a journalist's query Photo © CricInfo

Apart from the issue of Manager's report, the Chairman also discussed at length the reasons for the Pakistan team's failure to deliver in New Zealand.

Denying any reports of rift between the players and the coach, the Chairman admitted that the players did perform below par. "The team was plagued by injuries; some of the senior players had to come back home midway during the tour. All this affected team's morale."

A `journalistic' view Photo © CricInfo

Asked about relieving Javed Miandad from the coach's job, the Chairman said, "I desperately needed Javed on the advisory panel, as there was hitherto only one cricketer there, in Rameez Raja."

Visibly incited by different allegations leveled against him regarding the team's poor showing in New Zealand, Javed claimed that Pakistan had been depleted by injuries to key players. About his coaching capabilities, he said, "a coach's job is out of the field, what the players do on the field is beyond his grasp…"

General Zia giving out details of the Board's future plans Photo © CricInfo

The PCB Chairman rejected any claims regarding his own ousting from the PCB. Adopting a firm stance on the issue, he asserted, "I am only answerable to the government of Pakistan and not anybody else. If the government does not want me in the job, I can not continue with it for another day."

The remaining matters discussed at the press conference were:

Players' Committee
A players' committee, comprised of the captain, vice-captain and a junior player will be formed. This will be responsible for conveying the problems of other members of the team to the tour manager. If somehow the manager is unable to attend to that problem, he will refer the matter to the Board.

Appointment of DIG
To expedite the investigation into match fixing and betting in cricket, a police officer of the rank of DIG will be appointed. This officer is to work and coordinate with the Sir Paul Condon, the investigating officer appointed by the ICC. According to the Chairman, three names are currently under consideration for the post, however, "I have recommend DIG Israr of the Islamabad police."

Pitches
Mr. Atkinson, the pitch curator from England arrived in Pakistan on a ten days visit starting form the 1st of April. He has already seen the pitches in Lahore, Gujranwala, and Sheikhupura and will be visiting some other crickets grounds in the coming days. The PCB has asked him to prepare pitches meeting the standards of pitches in South Africa, Australia and England. These supposedly fast tracks will be used during the domestic tournaments so that the youngsters could better adapt themselves to the conditions in these countries.

Fielding Coach
The PCB has contacted Mr. Julian Fountain to impart fielding techniques to youngsters as well as the members of the national team. Mr. Fountain, who is currently in the West Indies will arrive in Pakistan in May and remain here for six months. Jonty Rhodes was also contacted in this regard, but to domestic engagements he is not available at the moment. The sponsor for this venture is McDonalds, the famous fast food chain.

National Cricket Academy
The National Cricket Academy, working in the Lahore, will restart its working from May 7th; similar academies in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Peshawar are also in the offing.

Reorganization of Media and Marketing Departments
Identifying the needs of an effective media and marketing departments the PCB has decided to align them on professional basis.

Player Contracts
In response to a query regarding the need of player discipline, the Chairman disclosed that the Board is making plans to bind the players under contracts, as has been done in the case of Inzamam-ul-Haq (not signed by any departmental team, the vice captain has come under PCB's payroll). Under the proposed contract, the players of the national team will become the employees of the Board and will be bound to observe all its rules and regulations.

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