LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja has said that the idea of an annual quadrangular T20I series involving Pakistan, India, Australia and England was still alive with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and it has not been shelved.
In a post Board of Governors (BoG) meeting press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Friday, he said the four-nation concept was not dead as was presumed by the media, adding that the ICC was bundling rights for the ICC world cup events when the idea was floated and it was not appropriate time to pursue the idea otherwise the investors would have chased it. He said PCB will pursue the idea in a robust way.
To a question, Ramiz acceded to the idea that the expanding IPL window was squeezing the bilateral series, adding that no announcement has yet been made on IPL being given two and half month window in the next ICC Future Tours Programme.
He said it was highly unlikely for IPL being a domestic tournament, assuring he will take up the issue at the ICC AGM in July. ‘PCB will give its opinion in a bold way wherever it feels short-changed’, he responded.
Ramiz took credit for holding PSL 7 in one piece at home grounds, adding that the PSL was played in bits in pieces in the past which broke the momentum. He said the audiences have started to own Pakistan cricket and this filled the coffers which is a good omen for cricket.
Taking credit for the success under him, he said Pakistan cricket team’s success is 75 percent since he took over in September last and this is the best success rate among all cricketing nations.
He urged the media to highlight the achievements of the cricketers and cricket board instead falling for the negativity. “We are open to positive criticism and would welcome all opinion on how to improve team’s performance”, chairman PCB said.
On commercial excellence, he said there has been an increase of 81 percent in PSL model, 35 percent growth in shirt logo while there has been a phenomenal rise of 77 percent in sale of rights this year, adding that the funds have been at the highest in the history of the PCB.
He said Pakistan Junior League (PJL) will also attract money for the PCB, adding that the board has been envisaging new ideas and properties.
For the first, the spectators will watch three foreign coaches in the domestic circuit, adding that domestic cricket is the jugular vein of the Pakistan cricket and the good nursery of players will augur well for the the Pakistan cricket.
On the organizational excellence, he said fans engagement has been on the top of agenda, adding that people saw house-full during the PSL, Pakistan-Australia series and Pakistan- west Indies series in Multan, adding that he also talked about revamping of infrastructure at major stadiums and renovating cricket grounds in small stadiums so that cricket could reach to these cities, adding that the spectators in small cities are desirous of seeing their heroes.
Defending his decision to change coaching staff prior to the ICC T20 World Cup 21, he said the decision brought freshness to the performance, adding that Australia batting great Matthew Hayden will again be hired to coach the team in ICC T20 WC 22 in Australia.
To a question, he said PCB does not want to be burden on the provincial government due to security concerns and it is also unjust to lockdown a city, adding that 70 rooms each will be constructed in Multan and Karachi while 30 rooms will be erected at the National High Performance Center (NHPC) to make room for the players to stay during a series.
Ramiz further said that the board has approached the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for land to build new stadium, adding that there was need to build new stadium to cater to the needs of the fans.
He said sponsors wanted to invest in Pakistan cricket, adding that a drop-in pitch costs a billion rupees but it is difficult to arrange for the transportation, adding that the board has decided to import soil from Australia while a curator will be here in July.
He said the cricket pitches against Australia were dead, and that is all pitches have been replaced in 107 centers in the country and a Dubai-based company will stitch artificial grass on these pitches. He also told of experimenting with 80 percent clay content in the making of the pitches.
On the representation from associations in the PCB BoG, he said the scrutiny is underway and the representation will be made once the scrutiny is complete.
On his removal as Chairman PCB, Ramiz said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is patron of PCB and he has sent him a request for a meeting to brief him on the performance of PCB.
He said people should not be removed on the wish of one or two person if the performance is impeccable, adding that excellence can’t be produced without continuity.
On former prime minister Imran Khan, he said all contacts were discontinued by him as soon as the former prime minister left office.
On departmental cricket, he said he had written to the departments but their response was luke-warm, adding that it was a wrong impression that cricketers have lost jobs. He said 250 cricketers have been employed by the PCB only.
On the financial issues in the Kashmir Premier League (KPL), he said the board had received a complaint against non-payment and the issue has been communicated to top management of the KPL.
On hurdles, he said the only hurdle was the style of cricket by the team and he had spoken to Babar Azam about it, adding that he has not bothered about it since the team is performing.
‘I have spoken to BCCI President Sourav Ganguly on the sidelines that we are three cricketers including Martin Snedden on the Boards and what is the benefit if we cannot bring about the difference in bilateral cricket but Ganguly had his issues’, Ramiz responded, adding that Ganguly had offered me twice to play in IPL but I was split, though it made cricketing sense, as the fans would have torn me apart.
On code of conduct for PCB officials, he said “We are a regulatory body and everything is dependent on discipline,” adding that the officials need to follow PCB rules and regulations.
On increasing team in the domestic cricket, he said Babar Azam is also supporter of one more team, adding that the once the performance of the team is pressing, one or two more team will be added.
He said the PCB will renovate and provide infrastructure to the five or six cricket clubs which have been producing test cricketers, adding that the complaints on selection on local level will be addressed.
He said PJL is a massive attraction, adding that a super star will be incharge of a dug-out to keep intact interest of the fans, adding that the investors are investing in the future stars of the country.
On non-selection of Asad Shafiq, Ramiz Raja said he does not interfere in the selection of the teams, adding that people cannot be on the same page in the selection matters but effort is made to give right to the deserving cricketers.
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