Pakistan News

We want to take Pakistan team to new heights: Zaka

KARACHI: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf, while lauding the remarkable strides of the team in the Test series against England said they were looking to take them to new heights.

“Pakistan have to go to new heights. Our eyes are focused on 2015 World Cup,” he told reporters at the National Stadium on Sunday while attending the annual sports day of a school.

Prime minister’s adviser on education Shahnaz Wazir Ali and PCB director general Pakistan’s former captain Javed Miandad were present on the occasion.

Commenting on the reservations of some senior players on the appointment of Dav Whatmore as Pakistan chief coach, Zaka said, “We will do what is in the interest of Pakistan cricket and what is good for us.”

Responding to a question about change of coach despite Pakistan’s winning combination, he said he had not taken the final decision on the appointment of the coach.

The committee comprising Intikhab Alam, Zaheer Abbas and Naushad Ali has recommended the name of Dav Whatmore as the new coach.

“This committee has taken this decision. Not me. We are yet to take the final decision,” he commented.

The PCB chairman said everyone including players, coach, manager and even Aaqib Javed contributed in the victories.

“Credit of success should go to all,” he added.

On the one-day series, Zaka said it would be a good competition as both teams will enter the arena on Monday. He, however, admitted that one-day cricket is a different ball game.

“It will be a tough competition and I hope the team will maintain their winning streak.”

He said the International Cricket Council (ICC) had no reservations about Wahab Riaz so he was selected in the team.

On the selection of Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria in the team, he said, “This is a sensitive issue and I should not comment on it.”

However, he said whoever had performed well for Pakistan was an asset for the country.

On the selection of all-rounder Shoaib Malik, Zaka said he was picked on the recommendation of captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

“Misbah is the captain and he thinks that Malik’s spin bowling will benefit and that is why he is inducted into the team,” he pointed out.

Zaka expressed confidence that international cricket would return to Pakistan with Bangladesh’s visit. “The ice will break with the Bangladesh’s visit and we are also working on plan two for inviting other countries.”

He said Bangladesh’s security delegation would be visiting Pakistan soon and Interior Minister Rehman Malik had already announced that the highest level security would be provided to them.

Replying to a question that the ICC would also be sending an independent security team for assessment, the PCB chairman said they would have no objections.