The fault is in our system: PCB chief

KARACHI: What do you do if under your watch, the national cricket team dips to an all-time low?
If you are Shaharyar Khan then you absolve yourself of all responsibility and just blame the system for a spate of embarrassing defeats.
That’s what the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman did on Sunday when asked to comment on the national team’s catastrophic performance in the ongoing tour of Bangladesh where they have so far lost all five games of the trip.
Shaharyar, whose second stint as PCB chief is proving to be even worse than his first one, blamed Pakistan’s poor cricketing structure and rued the fact that young players are not getting enough opportunities to represent the country.
The ex-diplomat lamented that Pakistan lack a proper system which is why our players lag behind due to improper coaching and below-par physical fitness.
He stressed that Pakistan didn’t just lose in Bangladesh they lost miserably there.
He claimed that under his command the PCB is making all out efforts to improve the system.
There are reports that several Zimbabwe players are reluctant about touring Pakistan for what PCB sees a ground-breaking home series next month. But Shaharyar was confident that the matches will take place as Pakistan was ready to provide the visitors fool-proof security.
Agencies add: Reports suggested on Sunday that Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) has managed to convince its players to tour Pakistan for the one-off limited overs series in May but has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for special financial incentives for their players as well.
After holding talks with its players and coach Dav Whatmore, ZCU has asked Pakistan to pay the daily allowances and match fees to the Zimbabwean players.
“They have set forth some new conditions as their players were reluctant to tour Pakistan because of security concerns,” one source said.
He said since the ZCU was also demanding a cut in the revenues of the series the PCB hierarchy would meet on Monday (today) to take a final decision on the tour.
“We have to see whether the tour by Zimbabwe will be financially and otherwise viable for us now if we have to foot these bills,” the source added.
Pakistan are keen to host Zimbabwe from around May 20 for three one-day matches and two T20 Internationals in Lahore and probably Karachi as no Test-playing nation has toured the country since March 2009 when militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.
The source said that PCB was also upset with the statement from the Federation of International Cricketers warning the Zimbabwean players not to tour Pakistan as security conditions were not safe for them.
“The tour is not about how much we earn from it but about finally breaking the barrier and getting a test team to play in Pakistan but even than we will take a final decision on Monday as we have to weigh all pros and cons of the tour,” another source said.
Zimbabwe also want a guarantee from Pakistan that they will undertake a return tour sometime in August this year.
Ironically, when Pakistan were due to tour Bangladesh they had also demanded a 50 per cent share in revenues from the tour from the host country.
In the end the PCB agreed to send its team after the Bangladesh Board agreed to pay them 325,000 US Dollars to cover expenses of the Pakistan team.
Media reports said that Zimbabwean players had demanded to be paid US$10,000 for touring Pakistan but Whatmore played a big role in convincing them to be reasonable in their demands.
Whatmore remained head coach of the Pakistan team for two years before the PCB didn’t extend his contract in early 2014.