PCB member smells a rat in bringing Board under Sports Ministrys control

After the Pakistan Sports Ministry took over the control of the PCB, a Board member has said that it was long standing dream of the Ministry to have control over the cricket board and that the move was undertaken to fulfill a hidden agenda.

Islamabad, Sept 23 : After the Pakistan Sports Ministry took over the control of the PCB, a Board member has said that it was long standing dream of the Ministry to have control over the cricket board and that the move was undertaken to fulfill a hidden agenda.

He said that he smelt a rat in the latest development, as the country's President Asif Ali Zardari was still its patron.

"I do not think the Ministry could wrest the powers without the consent and approval of the President of Pakistan who is also the patron of the Board," The News quoted the PCB member as saying on the condition of anonymity.

"Cricket is the only sport in the country that looks after itself and is in a position to work for the promotion of the game without any outside help. All other sports that come under Ministry however have been struggling to even meet their daily expenses. God knows what would happen to cricket now," he said.

The Governing Board member said that the Sports Ministry should have waited for the appointment of a new chairman. "Dr Nasim Ashraf resigned on August 18. What has the Ministry been doing for almost over one month. Now when the appointment of the new chairman is just around the corner, they have jumped into the fray," he said.

The member said he was in consultation with other members of the Board over the new development. "Moving court to seek justice is one option. We are in the process of consultation with other members," he said.

ANI