Re: Say hello to our new PCB chief: Shahryar Khan
New PCB chairman also endorsed Misbah to be captain till 2015 
Losing Test series against Sri Lanka not end of the world: Shaharyar Khan - Newspaper - DAWN.COM
Losing Test series against Sri Lanka not end of the world: Shaharyar Khan
By Mohammad Yaqoob
Published about 4 hours ago
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Newly elected Pakistan cricket chief, Shaharyar Khan addresses the press briefing in Lahore. — Photo by AFP
LAHORE: The newly-elected Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar M Khan while sending mixed signals to the Pakistan team management in Sri Lanka on Monday, endorsed the decision of his predecessor Najam Sethi of retaining Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq for World Cup 2015.
“My first priority is to bring continuity and stability in the PCB and I don’t think losing a Test series to Sri Lanka is a disaster or there is need to make wholesale changes in that backdrop,” said Shaharyar who was elected unopposed as PCB chief here on Monday for a tenure of three years.
“I think at this time you cannot find a more perfect man to lead Pakistan than Misbah. So he will continue as captain till World Cup-2015 and I am sending a message to both him and coach not to lose too much sleep over losing the Test series in Sri Lanka and try to bring improvement in team’s performance for the upcoming ODI series.”
“I believe continuity is necessary and you must remember that in my last tenure I stuck with one captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and one coach Bob Woolmer because I believe it is not fair to change a person after just one or two bad performances,” he said.
[HR][/HR]‘Bringing stability in PCB is my first priority’
[HR][/HR]“Though Inzamam was not a perfect captain, he was good enough to lead the side and I continued him despite the fact he let me down in the Oval Test,” recalled Shaharyar .
However, when asked pointedly about the team’s failure in Sri Lanka in presence of a beefed up team management, Shaharyar said: “In my opinion too heavy a coaching staff is not good for the team. Our team management currently have a spin coach, a fast bowling coach as well as a fielding coach. So what is left for the head coach to do?”
“The players need coaching at the ages of 13 or 15 and not at the Test level. Therefore, with the passage of time we will decide which coach is necessary for the team depending on his performance,” he said.
Shaharyar said Pakistan should not lose heart as Sri Lanka is a strong team which has not only defeated England but also won the Asia Cup early this year.
He also hinted that the first edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which was planned to be held in the UAE in January next year, may not be held now. “Though PSL is a good thing, we will have to think and plan it in a successful manner,” he said. “If second line of players turn up to participate in it, the message will not be positive one for PSL. Therefore, we have to take every measure to make it successful.”
There are reports that the bidding rights received for the PSL which were opened on Monday could not bring any attractive financial offer for the league and this has forced the PCB to shelve the programme of its launch.
About the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan, especially against India, Shaharyar said the reason behind the suspension of international cricket was security concerns, not other issues and when the situation improved, top ranked teams would be touring Pakistan.
He said the resumption of international cricket could happen in phases. “Some of the countries could send their U-19 or A teams to Pakistan at first. Moreover, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh could also send their national teams to Pakistan after the improvement of security situation and gradually things will normalise.”
He categorically said that the downsizing of the PCB staff would continue but after carefully considering various factors. “The first round of the downsizing has been done in the previous tenure [of Sethi] and second will be done but after carefully considering every case on humanitarian grounds. We will not extend the contracts of those employees who are not integral part of the set-up,” he said.
Shaharyar also praised the performance of chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad and said he and some 20 other officials of the PCB were pillars of the board who are working tirelessely to make the game run successfully.
To a question Shaharyar replied that the future of tainted players Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif was bleak as far as their chances of comeback are concerned. However, he said the case of third tainted fast bowler Mohammad Aamir was different because from day one of the scandal he had been cooperating with the ICC and the judiciary.
The seasoned diplomat admitted to the media that although he had stated last year that he would not make a comeback as PCB chairman, he reviewed his decision because he had great respect for the Supreme Court. He said the Apex court had shown serious concern over the frequent changes of the PCB chairmen and his friends and wiser cricketing circles asked him to contest the PCB chief’s elections to bring stability in the board.
He said the next meeting of the Governing Board will be held on Saturday after which he would be in a good position to share more details with the media. Shaharyar also praised the work of acting PCB chairman retired Justice Sair Ali for conducting the elections in a smooth and transparent manner.
Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2014
Shahryar Khan is a good choice, sanity amongst the insanity of recent moons. He did some good work in the past, and I expect some more of it in the coming months. We need a true visionary as the head of PCB.
