New PCB boss eyes international tours

LAHORE: Newly-elected Pakistan cricket chief Najam Sethi vowed on Wednesday to bring international competition back to the terror-hit country after years of isolation.Sethi made the promise after being elected chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a three-year term.

The new chief, whose first term as chairman in 2013 was marred by court wrangling, said bringing international cricket back to Pakistan would be a challenging but worthwhile goal. “We need to show patience because it is related to the security situation in the country,” Sethi told media.

Barring a limited-over series against Zimbabwe in 2015, Pakistan has not hosted foreign squads since a militant attack targeted the visiting Sri Lankan team in 2009.Sethi said he hoped the planned World XI tour next month would pave the way for future competition in the country. “We hope to bring a World XI for a three-match Twenty20 series and the next two-three months will bring more good news,” said Sethi.

The cricket boss said he would also attend an Asian Cricket Council meeting in Colombo on Saturday where he hopes to persuade Sri Lanka to send their team to Pakistan.“We have invited Sri Lanka to play a few matches after their series with us and I will try to get a reply on that invitation,” said Sethi.

Pakistan are due to play two Tests, three ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals with Sri Lanka in September and October, which will likely be held in the United Arab Emirates — Pakistan’s neutral venue for its home series since 2009.

The PCB plans to reduce the coaching staff of the national team and in a first step it will not be extending the contract of Shane Hayes, Australian physio working with the team. Talking to media, Sethi said that the contract of Hayes was not being extended and that the contract extension of other coaching staff would be considered when their contracts ended.

PCB is paying head coach Mickey Arthur Rs1.6 million per month.  Grant Flower, Steve Rixon, Shane Hayes, Grant Luden and Azhar Mahmood are taking Rs700,000 to Rs800,000 per month.

PCB also plans to drop fielding coach Steve as he has failed to improve catching. Azhar is also likely to be replaced as he remained unsuccessful to cut down no-balls. The PCB’s Governing Board elected Sethi as chairman during its meeting at National Cricket Academy in Lahore on Wednesday.

The other contender was Arif Ejaz, CEO of Adamjee Insurance and KSB Pumps Industries. Sethi has been attributed to have played an important role in rolling Pakistan Super League (PSL) finally into action after several postponements.

He is also attributed to have played a key role in bringing PSL’s second edition final to Pakistan. Members of the Board of Governors are Sethi, Arif, Muzamil Hussain (WAPDA), Nauman K Dar (HBL), Miftah Ismail (SSGC), Mansoor Masood Khan (United Bank Limited), Nadeem Ahmed (Lahore), Murad Ismail (Quetta), and Muhammad Numan Butt (Sialkot).