Miandad rejects PCB's offer

Former Pakistan captain and Director General of PCB Javed Miandad has rejected a Rs 100 million development project.

Miandad rejected the project saying that it is nothing but wastage of money.
Wazir Ali Khoja, a member of the PCB's governing council on Friday announced that the project, which recently got board Chairman Ejaz Butt's approval, was aimed at renovating and upgrading National Stadium and build a five-star hotel with all facilities.

Miandad, however, rejected Khoja's claim as his relation with Butt soured yet again.
"The governing council has given no such approval and enough is enough, I am not going to allow anyone to hurt Pakistan cricket anymore," Miandad said.

"I will soon meet President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also chief patron of the PCB and apprise him of the way things are being run in the board and how some people are damaging Pakistan cricket," Miandad said.

Despite being the DG Cricket in the board, Miandad has been given no major responsibility or authority by Butt who has kept him confined to domestic cricket matters.

Miandad had resigned early last year because of the differences with Butt but was later reinstated on government pressure.

Miandad said he had also met with the Defence Minister Chaudhary Mukhtar, who is also brother-in-law of Butt and apprise him of what was going on in the board.

"I am a technical man and I have given immense service to Pakistan cricket yet Butt is not utilising my experience or skills properly. Most of the times I have been kept in the dark about key issues and they are not willing to take any advice from me on important matters," Miandad said.

Miandad said that the development project planned in Karachi was a case in point.
"I had given a plan for a similar project with a much lesser cost but it was rejected by Butt and now they have come up with this new idea," he said.

Miandad said he had no intention of resigning again from the board as the chief patron had appointed him.

When Butt was asked about Miandad's complaint that he was not given any big task in the board, the PCB chairman said that the former Test captain cost the board a monthly bill of Rs 1 million paid as his salary and other perks.

"But he does not do any work and also refused to become coach of the national team. So now I am trying to find something important for him to do," Butt said.

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Twenty20 a virus, says Miandad

Former Pakistan captain and coach Javed Miandad has labelled the shortest format of the game "a virus" which could signal the death of Test cricket. Miandad believed that with Twenty20 leagues around the world offering vast amounts of money, international cricket - particularly the long form of the game - was becoming less attractive to the players, and he called for the ICC to step in.

"Twenty20 cricket is a virus and if the ICC doesn't restrict matches of this format it will finish Test cricket, as leading players will no longer want to play for their country," Miandad told AFP. "With the introduction of Twenty20 leagues, the notion that 'country comes first' is also hit for six because when there is a choice between national duty and more money, players will choose money. Some of the Australian players could have represented their country longer but retired to play Twenty20 leagues two years ago.

"When Twenty20 cricket started, I had smelled this format will damage cricket. Now the game will not see quality players, as they are now more attuned to play the big-hitting game than the traditional and classical way."

Interestingly enough, Miandad's comments came at a time when Pakistan players were ignored for the third season of the IPL with none of the franchises bidding for the available 11 players during the auction in Mumbai on Tuesday. The apparent reason was because the teams were not sure of their availability due to visa and other problems.

However, Miandad said the players "should not be bothered" by the snub. "They must concentrate on their national duties as country always comes first."

He also expressed his concerns about India having a dominant say in world cricket affairs. "I fear a day will come when world cricket will be run by India alone," Miandad said. "So I fear if Australia, England, Sri Lanka and the West Indies don't realise this, world cricket will be at the mercy of India."

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