PCB snubs majority of ex-cricketers

KARACHI: A majority of former Pakistan cricketers have not been invited by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and National Stadium Karachi (NSK) management to witness the Pakistan-leg matches of the PSL-4 at the venue, ‘The News’ learnt on Saturday.

Interestingly, some former players who are working for the PCB have also not been issued free passes for the matches.

A source, who has played 50 Test matches for Pakistan, said that he only received two tickets each for two matches.

Another former player said “a PCB official didn’t recognise him when he contacted the board for tickets.” He was later issued two tickets each for two matches.

“I have received only two tickets of an enclosure where teflon roof has not yet been installed,” another former Test cricketer told this scribe.

A former Test cricketer said: “Due to security measures, we cannot enter the stadium, and the person who has been assigned to issue the passes is not receiving calls of former cricketers trying to reach him.” He mentioned he had not received his passes yet.

“During the tenure of Shahryar Khan and Najam Sethi, the free passes of the best enclosures were posted to our residences,” he informed.

A group of former Test cricketers said it is customary in England, Australia and other countries to honour their former players by inviting them for matches in their respective countries.

“The new managing director of PCB, Wasim Khan, who came to Pakistan from England “should know how these countries honour their former greats,” a former cricketer opined.

They appealed to the PCB chairman Ehsan Mani and MD Wasim Khan to take notice of this mismanagement.

A former player said that he would contact the management of the PCB after the PSL-4 and request them to “allocate a separate enclosure for the cricketers who have served this country for many years.”