Ashraf resigns over differences with PCB chief curator

ISLAMABAD: Mohammad Ashraf, head curator of the Mirpur Cricket Stadium, has resigned after developing differences with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Ashraf is one of the key figures who raised the Pindi Stadium pitch. ‘The News’ broke the story in the May 22 issue that Ashraf developed differences with the PCB over relaying of grass at the Pindi Stadium and was transferred to Mirpur following the heated arguments with the PCB head curator. That story turned out to be true as Ashraf has come up open and declared he cannot continue with the PCB head curator anymore.

The son of former head curator Haji Mohammad Bashir, Ashraf’s saga has now resulted in his resignation.

“Yes, I have resigned from the post of head curator Mirpur Stadium and I am now on one-month notice period that ends on July 22. I have stated the reasons in a blunt and clear way in my resignation,” Ashraf said.

His resignation, which was sent to the PCB, says: “Two months back chief curator PCB visited Pindi Stadium and without consulting me he started repair works of the outfield which I felt was not rightly done. On April 17, 2021 I wrote a letter to the director of the High Performance Centre in Lahore, informing him that the outfield didn’t get better after all the work which the chief curator had done with a contractor. But to my surprise, now I have been transferred to Mirpur Azad Kashmir, without any reason.

“After this injustice, I have decided to resign because I can’t think of doing wrong for the betterment of Pindi Stadium. I have never accepted any non-technical pressures and will not do so in future too,” Ashraf stated in his resignation.

“During the last three decades, I have prepared wickets for 29 One-Day Internationals, 11 Test matches and hundreds of domestic first-class matches. I was honoured to have prepared wicket at the Arbab Niaz Stadium during the World Cup in 1987. In 1996, I managed to start the World Cup match on time at the Pindi Stadium despite heavy overnight rain. It was all made possible due to the team effort of ground staff, then chairman of the England Cricket Board invited me to witness a Test match at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground where I duly witnessed the match in the company of head groundsman in London.

In 1997, I attended a groundsman course at Northamptonshire County for three weeks. Since 1992, I have been working at the Pindi Stadium. Last year during the inclement weather in Rawalpindi, I managed to organise several Pakistan Super League games with the cooperation of my fellow groundsmen which was duly appreciated by PCB chairman Ehsan Mani. During all those memorable years at the Pindi Stadium, it is unfortunate that I was transferred to Mirpur.”

He also mentioned that during his illustrious career as head curator he was transferred thrice but he never compromised on his principles.