PCB chief Shaharyar Khan to appoint two cricketers as advisers

Lahore, August 19 -  Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan will appoint two eminent cricketers as advisers who can be invited to the Board of Governors (BoG) meeting when required.

The move came after the PCB's 37th BoG meeting in Lahore on Tuesday which saw no cricketer present for the first time in its history after former Test spinner Iqbal Qasim was withdrawn by his parent body National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) following his retirement.

PCB was forced to address the alarming situation that saw no cricketer in its BOG for the first time. The panel, set up to improve the standard of cricket in the country, currently functions without the inputs of cricketers. Shaharyar, however, failed to provide any hint whom he is contemplating of appointing for the important post.

But apart from revealing its intention of appointing two cricketers in the panel, PCB failed to address other pressing issues plaguing the game in the country as another high-profile failed to take the necessary steps.

"In order to seek expert cricketing opinion where required, the BoG authorised the chairman to appoint two eminent cricketers as advisers to the chairman. These advisers may also be invited to the BoG meetings for soliciting expert opinion on cricketing affairs, as and when required," a PCB news release said on Tuesday.

The BoG was also informed that the final plan of action for holding the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be presented in the next meeting.

The PCB is trying to hold the league either in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Qatar in February next year but it hasn't been able decide a final venue as it is facing different problems at the two venues.

"Najam Sethi, chairman executive committee, briefed the Board of Governors about developments related to the Pakistan Super League. He informed the Board that the final plan of action for PSL will be presented in the next meeting," the news release said.

"In addition, Sethi also informed the Board of Governors about the new domestic structure and the franchise model for regional teams. Members of the BoG appreciated the efforts of PCB management to improve the quality of domestic cricket. It was hoped that, under the new model, player remunerations and job prospects will improve further," the release said.

(IANS)