International and national agencies had already verified that Pakistan-India cricket series, 2004, remained free of match fixing and national coach Bob Woolmer was being paid almost the same remunerations as being given to foreign coaches in the neighbouring countries. This was stated by Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board, Shaharyar M. Khan, in his four meetings with the Senate Standing Committee on Sports headed by Senator Zafar Iqbal Chaudhary.
The PCB Chairman also stated the correct position as to the ticket sales during the home series against India in March-April 2004, transparent appointments in PCB etc.
"The members of the committee were generally satisfied with the performance of the PCB. They, however, stressed the need to improve the international standing of Pakistan's team with a view to bring it at par with leading cricketing nations and prepare it for the World Cup, 2007", it was revealed after one of the tour meetings.
The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee considered a point of order raised by Senator Kamil Ali Agha on alleged bad performance of Pakistan team during the Test and One-Day series against India.
The PCB Chairman said though Pakistan narrowly lost the Test and One-Day series against India, the competitions were fiercely contested.
Categorically denying reports of match-fixing, Shaharyar pointed out that Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) of International Cricket Council (ICC) "as well as our own agencies" had found no evidence of match fixing during the series.
In reply to a query from a member of the Committee regarding appointment of Robert Andrew Woolmer as coach of national team, the PCB Chairman said that the Englishman was appointed on contract in keeping with his professional competence.
Shaharyar M. Khan said that it was for the first time that transparent appointments had been made in P08 after duly advertising them.
In reply to questions from the senators regarding the mismanagement in the sale of tickets, the money for Pak-India series amounted to Rs 85 million which was nearly six times more than the previous record of 1996 World Cup amounting to Rs 15 million.
He admitted that there were many shortcomings during the series and assured the committee that all steps would be taken to overcome these drawbacks.
During another meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Sports, Shaharyar M. Khan said that revised constitution of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was being formulated by constitution commission comprising former Justice Karamat Nazir Bhandari, Zahir Hamid, MNA, and Makhdoom Ali Khan, Attorney General for Pakistan.
The constitution is being revised in a way as to be workable by removing anomalies, gaps and contradictions that were quite obvious in the suspended constitution.
The Chairman of PCB informed the Committee that he, on assuming charge as Chairman, got the accounts of PCB audited by a reputed international firm of Chartered Accountants.
He assured the Committee that all future PCB contracts would be signed after going through a transparent process of advertising, qualification and selection by a contract committee.
In reply to a query from the Members of the Committee, the Chairman PCB acknowledged that stadiums were not spectator-friendly and that PCB has embarked on a programme of improving facilities in the stadiums for future series.
The Members of the Committee underlined the need for encouraging the domestic cricket talent at district level. It was suggested that training/coaching of the players should be properly arranged and the courses should be objectively designed so as to attract the talent from the grass root.
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