The PCB takes strong exception to the article in a national English daily under the title, 'PCB considers itself above board'. This so obviously inspired, clumsily done piece has tried to besmirch the image of the PCB, and tried to cloak its motives in high-sounding jargon. But the piece, it would be clear to any objective reader, while mostly dealing with generalities and drawing conclusions at random, lacks substance because the rhetoric is not backed up by facts. And the few facts that it quotes are inaccurate. Still the basic journalistic ethic of taking the PCB's version or confirming facts was most sedulously avoided.

To clear some of the inaccuracies fed by this motivated piece, the PCB has this to offer.

Firstly, the issue of television rights. To ensure transparency, for the first time the bids were publicly invited, and opened at an international venue [which was not Sharjah, as stated in the above article, but at Dubai] with international and national supervision of highest order. Legal and accounting firms of highest integrity, Afridi and Angell and Pricewaterhouse Coopers respectively, supervised the bids.

The process of evaluation of bids is complex, painstaking and time consuming. And nowhere in the world is this done with everything out in the open, because not only is it detrimental to the interest of the parent organization, it is unfair on the bidders too. The whole process is likely to take another three months, and all bidders are in the know that the final decision would be taken by September 30.

At the moment the bids are being evaluated and will take at least three more months before any decision is taken in this regard. And let it be said that despite the geo-political problems and disruptions, the PCB is likely to get a far better deal than the previous one.

Secondly, it is absolutely inaccurate that there was any backlog in auditing of PCB's accounts. All accounts upto 2000-2001 have been audited, by a leading firm of auditors, A.F. Ferguson and Company. The fiscal year 2001-2002 has just concluded on June 30, and the process of its audit would proceed immediately and concluded with due alacrity.

Thirdly, other than the event of last April, which is in the follow-up process, no appearance fees are pending to the CBFS.

Fourthly, Wasim Raja was picked up as a match-referee independently by the ICC out of a panel suggested by the PCB. The ICC made its own evaluations and the PCB had nothing to do with it. However, Raja has served Pakistan with distinction at all levels, and his academic credentials and communication are far better than most of Pakistani cricketers. The PCB is positive that he would serve the ICC with the same flair which distinguished him as cricketer.

Fifthly, Tangiers was also cleared up by the ICC as an offshore venue after it met its stringent conditionalities, and the PCB has nothing to do with it. Pakistan's is not the only team taking part in the inaugural event there next month . South Africa and Sri Lanka too are apart of tri-nation tournament, with other nation like to play as well. If it was not a good venue, and the CBFS a lousy paymaster, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka would never to play there.

Sixthly, there is no 'unwanted paraphernalia' at the Board's secretariat. Those who raise this bogey are not aware of staffing requirements of modern-day Boards. In fact, the PCB has a far smaller establishment compared to other developed countries, such as Australia and South Africa. Above all, the present set-up only made very few appointments , using the people employed by the previous set-ups to the optimum by clearly defining job assignments and raising additional development work and establishing academies etc. the salaries of the Board's employees are far lower compared to the national corporate sector.

As far firing people on non-performance or for other reason, this remains the prerogative of all corporate set-ups, and such things are never discussed in public.

The proof of good governance of this board is that it has gone into previously uncharted territory, and tried to take the development of the game a few notches higher and on a permanent basis by creating systems and nationwide infrastructure to support it. As a result of these remarkable efforts by a highly motivated team, 45 out of PCB's 53 Infrastructure development projects are on schedule. An outstanding effort, by any yardstick. The Regional Academies are in their second year, with the state of the art National Academy at Lahore due for opening in Skeptember.

Also due to the Board's endeavors, the Pakistan team has come out of the rebuilding phase in just a year and a half. The induction of new blood, taking good care of assets like Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Zahid as well as bringing back the discarded maestros such as Waqar Younis and Rashid Latif has combined to turn around Pakistan's fortunes, to make it a team to reckon with. "These are the present set-ups achievements, and they could not have been brought about without clearly set objectives, good governance and transparency", concluded the PCB spokesman.


Khalid Butt
Media Manager
July 05, 2002

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