Zaheer flays PCB over feeble role in new FTP

KARACHI: Former Pakistan Test captain Zaheer Abbas has taken a swipe at the country’s cricket authorities over their failure to safeguard Pakistan’s interests in the new Future Tours Programme of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Once finalised, the new FTP will hand Pakistan a raw deal as it will get fewer matches than most of the other full Test-playing nations. “I’m really sad and angry at the way Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has tackled this issue so far,” Zaheer, who has also served as ICC President, told ‘The News’ in an interview on Wednesday.

“Among the various task entrusted on the people running the PCB one of the most important one is to make sure that Pakistan cricket gets its fair share in international cricketing action. From what I have read it seems that it hasn’t happened. The PCB has failed to fight for the cause of our cricket. They have not tackled the (FTP) matter well and that is a big cause of concern for all of us,” he stressed.

According to reports, the new FTP which is being finalised by the ICC tilts heavily in favour of the nations who once formed the infamous ‘Big Three’ – India, England and Australia. In the new programme South Africa join them as the fourth team to get maximum benefit.

Pakistan have been left to languish on the sidelines, almost degraded to the level of minnows like Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan. “That’s unacceptable,” Zaheer said. “I mean how can such treatment be justified? Pakistan is one of the great cricket-playing nations and should be treated like one. It’s the PCB’s job to make that happen,” he added.

In the new FTP, Pakistan have been given just 28 Tests and 38 One-day Internationals in a four-year cycle running from May 2019 to May 2023. Only Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland will play fewer Tests than Pakistan during that period. England will play 46 Tests, Australia 40 and India 37. Even Bangladesh will get 35 Tests.

Pakistan have been given an even worse deal in the 50-over format. Their 38 matches are the lowest of all teams, even fewer than that of Afghanistan (41), Zimbabwe (40) and Ireland (42). The Indians will play 61 while West Indies will get 62 ODIs. The Pakistanis fare no better when it comes to the Twenty20 format as they will play 38 games also the joint-lowest of the major Test-playing nations. Even Ireland play six more T20Is, while India will get 61, West Indies 55 and New Zealand play 49. Zaheer warned the PCB bosses that Pakistan cricket will suffer unless they fight to get a fairer share for the country in the new FTP.

“Already Pakistan cricket is in a bad shape,” he said. “We are still not having any international cricket in the country. If that’s not bad enough now we are not getting much cricket at all.

“What saddens me more is the fact that at a time when the rest of the world is finalising the international programme for the next four years, the PCB is busy engaged in some 10-over tournament abroad. I really wonder as to how our cricket has fallen to such a low,” he said referring to a new T-10 league which will be held in the UAE featuring leading Pakistani players.

Zaheer wasn’t happy with the fact that with the PCB’s blessings most of the star power of the T-10 league, which is a privately-owned enterprise, comes in the shape of Pakistani players. “Most of the big names in this league are Pakistanis. It’s a shame that at a time when the PCB is talking about bringing international cricket to Pakistan, it is allowing are top players to go and play in such privately-owned tournaments abroad. It’s an unwise move that could have serious repercussions for Pakistan cricket.”

Zaheer said that instead of allowing their players to feature in the league, the PCB should have made sure that the event was held in Pakistan. “I think if the idea (behind the T-10 league) is making money than the PCB could have earned big profits if it had staged it in Pakistan. We have many big business houses which would have supported it.”

Zaheer warned that the PCB has exposed Pakistani players to the perils of corruption by allowing them to take part in a league whose only interest is to make money.“What happens if there is a corruption scandal like the one we witnessed at the PSL early this year,” he asked. “Who will be responsible for it? I’m surprised that the PCB has taken such a risk for no big reward. Personally I just see it as lose-lose situation for Pakistan cricket.”

Najam Sethi, the PCB chairman, has come under fire over his support for the T10 league and Zaheer believes that the criticism is justified.“(Being PCB chairman) is not about joy rides and local politics. It is about bigger goals. But unfortunately we haven’t seen them achieving any major targets. If things continue going south then whatever good that is left in our cricket will also get destroyed.”