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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) it seems has become a charitable organization despite the fact other countries are shying away from playing here in the aftermath of the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in the US last year.

Next week, Pakistan face Australia in another offshore venture after West Indies refused to tour this country at the start of 2002.

New Zealand then scurried home last May after a bomb blast outside the teams' hotel in Karachi, barely hours before the start of the second Test, left 14 people dead including 11 Frenchmen.

Pakistan were then forced to stage a one-day triangular series in Nairobi after the Australians expressed their apprehensions about touring Pakistan because of security concerns.

PCB, unquestionably badly hit by these setbacks, had no alternative but to host foreign teams on 'neutral' venues so that the game goes on.

Yet despite the misfortunes forced upon it, the PCB are spending money in the most lavish manner on every Tom, Dick and Harry. With sponsorship hard to come by, there appears to be no cut down on expenditures.

At the same time, on the pretext of overseeing the arrangements for various series, PCB's officials are busy in indulging themselves with joyrides.

Chishty Mujahid, PCB's director, is in Sharjah at the moment. No doubt he's been assigned to supervise the arrangements being made for two Tests to be staged there after Pakistan and Australia play the opening Test in Colombo.

Zakir Khan, general manager cricket operations, had hardly time to catch his breath after spending almost a month in Nairobi, that he was asked to fly over to the Sri Lankan capital to look after the Colombo Test preparations.

Khalid Butt, the media manager of the board, made hay in the bright sunshine of Nairobi for 10 days during the triangular series.

All these highly paid officials, as per rules, were showered with travelling and daily allowances in precious foreign exchange as well as accommodation in five-star hotels plus other perks.

What happened to PCB's much-publicized austerity drive which was launched to curtail unnecessary spendings?

The re-hiring of Richard Pybus, the English-born South African coach, on a lucrative term is the latest example of how things are moving in the PCB.

Pybus's comeback follows a long list of foreign mercenaries who have invaded Pakistan cricket in recent times.

Andy Atkinson, the former Essex curator, was here last year to give invaluable tips to our local groundsmen on how to prepare sporting pitches.

Dale Naylor, the Surrey county physio-cum-trainer, was assigned to check the fitness level of Pakistani cricketers. Daryl Foster, of Kent and Western Australia fame, was brought over here to teach our fast bowlers.

Geoffrey Boycott, now cancer stricken and who was not found good enough by his county Yorkshire and country England, was hired to pass on batting lessons to the youngsters based at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. For a 15-day trip, the former opening batsman was presented with £30,000.

Clive Lloyd, the ex-West Indian Test captain, was invited to boost the morale of the Pakistan junior side which was proceeding to New Zealand for the Under-19 World Cup earlier this year.

Trevor Chappell, brother of former Australian captains Ian and Greg, was sacked as coach by Bangladesh. But what the PCB do? They welcomed him with open arms to improve the standard of fielding.

In between, PCB had also had the services of Israeli-born Jew physioherapist Dan Keisel on a couple of occasions.

And last but not the least, Dennis Waight, the Australian physio who was fired by West Indies with whom he had worked for well over 20 years, joined hands with the PCB to ensure our players remain in top shape before the team left for Morocco Cup in Tangiers in early August.

All these foreigners would not have dared to work for Pakistan cricket on meagre salaries.

To add insult to injury, the national team was burdened with a thought-leader in the form of Dr Aamir Siddique on four successive tours (Sharjah, Australia, Tangiers and Nairobi) from last April. He is not even a psychologist but runs a human resources firm in Lahore.

The marketing department of the board is virtually idle after the general manager marketing Abid Ali Kazi resigned in July.

It is anybody's guess from where the PCB is generating funds to pamper its officials and foreign guests. Some food for thought for PCB's top brass.

© Dawn