Pakistan Cricket Board is drawing up plans to readjust its available resources and to fix fresh priorities in its development projects being undertaken under Vision 2005.

Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, Lt. General Tauqir Zia has chaired a series of meeting with his senior officials, at PCB Headquarters, Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, with a view to discuss plans for meeting the situation brought about by the serious financial crunch by the cancellation of visits by India and New Zealand Cricket Team and subsequent loss of revenues.

The high level meeting of the PCB officials had detailed discussions on various modes of cost-cutting and readjustments in the on-going development work in all the four provinces in the country Chairman directed officials to carry on the development work in all the provinces under the fresh priorities without any serious implications. The projects in Balochistan province, which are in progress, are to be finished, according to the schedule, including the modernization of the Bugti Stadium, Quetta. Similarly the work in the Sindh province and all the seven zones of Karachi, Punjab, NWFP/FATA and AJK would also be completed as per the priorities and available resources.

Chairman PCB also discussed plans for generating resources through alternate programmes, sponsorships, and by holding the proposed Super League and a number of other events.

Efforts are also underway to re-organize the postponed tour of New Zealand Team on the alternate dates sometime next year, as already suggested by the New Zealand. While emphasizing the officials for exploring new avenues for earning revenue, Chairman also gave clear-cut directives for implementing all possible cost cutting measures to reduce the expenses.

Chairman PCB also held a meeting with the selectors and the panel of Doctors to discuss the performance and fitness of the players. The exercise is aimed at picking up a nucleus of players who will be under focus for the next World Cup. He wanted the selectors to put forth their detailed evaluation in this regard for a proper planning for the future.

The ICC also plans to implement a doping policy. The matter was discussed and directions given to formulate our doping policy and chart out its implementation by the PCB panel of doctors. The Panel of Doctors was also given due authority to carry out fitness test of players. All players will have to press the fitness test before they are considered for selection.

A meeting, was also held with Haroon Rashid for the Under-19 training camp which is planned to be held for the coming junior World Cup.

An advance draft of the new Constitution of PCB was also presented at another meeting in which the PCB Legal Advisor explained the salient features of the document. The Constitution is to be submitted to the Patron for final approval after its finalisation.

Chairman was also briefed about the progress on the proposed establishment of the Pakistan Cricket Foundation. The Foundation is being set up primarily for the welfare of cricketers but would also give a helping hand to sportsmen of the other disciplines and charities.


Khalid Butt
Media Manager
September 22, 2001

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