The five-year-old ad hocism in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to come to an end by the end of the year after the draft of the new constitution is approved by the Federal Law Ministry and authenticated by the PCB Chief Patron, President Pervez Musharraf.
The new PCB constitution, being drafted by the constitution commission, headed by Justice Karamat Nazir Bhandari with Pakistan Attorney-General Makhdoom Ali Khan and National Assembly member Zahid Hamid as members, is expected to be ready by the end of September or October.
With the implementation of new constitution, the General Council and the General Body would be revived, said PCB Chairman Shaharyar M. Khan, while talking to a leading Urdu daily, but when questioned about the possible amendments to the constitution, he avoided an explanation.
About representation in the General Council and the General Body, he did not reply as to who would be given representation.
Meanwhile the Senate Standing Committee on Sports, probing into the PCB affairs and causes of Pakistan's defeat against India, again summoned Shaharyar Khan, his Chief Executive Ramiz Raja, chief selector Wasim Bari and former coach Javed Miandad on July 19 to seek their explanation to various issues regarding the PCB affairs.
Since Ramiz Raja -- doing commentary in Sri Lanka -- and Javed Miandad were out of the country, Shaharyar has to face the volley of fiery questions from the committee members, especially Pakistan Peoples Party Patriot (PPPP) Senator Mohammad Enver Baig.
When questioned about the end to ad hocism, the PCB chief was non-committal.
But when repeatedly grilled by committee chairman Senator Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry and Enver Baig that he should give a firm date as the committee wanted an early end to ad hocism, Shaharyar Khan said he could give a final date after consulting Justice Karamat Nazir Bhandari.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Referring to public comments in the media and the e-mail messages the committee had received reports regarding mismanagement in the PCB, infighting in the team, lack of discipline and pathetic performances of the players, Senator Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry asked the PCB Chairman to submit a detailed report to the committee on July 28.
Shaharyar also submitted the unaudited accounts of the Board for the last two years, but
the committee rejected it,
asking him to submit audited accounts.
Though Shaharyar Khan admitted his weaknesses and mistakes in handling the PCB management, especially the Pakistan-India series, he could not satisfy the committee members.
Towards the end of the meeting, the PCB Chairman was handed over a four-page questionnaire by Senator Enver Baig, asking why no action had not been taken against Ramiz Raja for doing commentary on television, what salaries and perks being paid to foreign coaches and experts and his own achievements since his appointment as the PCB Chairman.
DOUBTS: Commenting on Shaharyar Khan's statement the ad hocism would come to an end with the implementation of new constitution by the end of the year, a top official of Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA), on condition of anonymity, told Business Recorder he doubted the intentions of the PCB Chairman.
He said contrary to the policy of President Pervez Musharraf of devolution of powers, the PCB Chairman was pursuing the policy of centralisation of powers and dictating terms on its affiliated associations.
Fed up with the PCB bosses' policies, he referred to Shaharyar Khan's reported views that there was no room for the aged and retired government officials in the Cricket Board. At the same time, he himself contradicted his statement by appointing retired bureaucrats and diplomats for the top PCB slots.
He said he could not rely on the PCB chief's gimmicks, and said when the PCB chief had decided to do away with the ad hoc setup, why was he inducting retired government officials and diplomats.
Describing these appointments an effort to bureaucratise the Cricket Board, he questioned was the PCB Ad Hoc Committee authorised to make appointments.
He believed the process of bureaucratisation would result in destruction of the games' controlling body beyond imagination.
He also rejected Shaharyar's arguments to appoint a Grade 19 officer as Media chief that since the PCB had to deal with various ministries and government department, the hiring of an Information Ministry official would help maintain liaison between the PCB and the government.
GRILLING: The cricket experts, referring to grilling of the PCB Chairman, Chief Executive and other top officials by the Senate Standing Committee on Sports, said the Cricket Board's affairs were not only criticised by the media, but also echoed in the Senate.
They praised Pakistan Peoples Party Patriot (PPPP) Senator Muhammad Enver Baig for raising the question of lavish spending by the PCB ad hoc administration since 1999.
An official of the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) was surprised to know the disclosure in the Senate by the Minister for Minorities, Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth, Rais Munir Ahmad, that over Rs 6.487 million were paid to the PCB officials as dearness allowance during their air junkets from July, 1999 to June, 2004.
He said while the associations were being deprived of their legal share from the incomes from matches against South Africa, Bangladesh and India, the Board officials were thriving on the public money at will.
According to the minister's reply, Rs 1,056,746 was paid to Lt-Gen. Tauqir Zia (Chairman); Rs 421,970 to Capt. Jahanzeb (Staff Officer to Chairman); Rs 186,650 to Yawar Saeed (Director); Rs 378, 875 to Muhammad Naeem (Treasurer). Besides, Rs.1, 171,432 was paid to Brig Munawar Ahmad (Director); Rs 167,164 to Chishty Mujahid (Director); Rs 840,414 to Ramiz Raja (CEO); Rs 156, 067 to Col Muhammad Pervaiz (General Manager, Administration); Rs 435, 014 to Khalid Butt (Media Manager), and Rs 1,041,722 to Zahid Bashir (General Manager, Marketing).
He demanded a thorough inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of Board's funds.