Country's top banker Ali Reza has emerged as a possible candidate to
take over as Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman as incumbent Ijaz Butt may
not get an extension, media reports say.
 Some television channels reported that Ali Reza may be asked to replace Ijaz Butt by next month. © AFP |
Some television channels reported on Tuesday that Ali Reza may be asked to replace Butt by next month.
"Yes there is some substance to these rumours but nothing is decided
as yet and the President has yet to take a decision on this issue. But
Ali Reza's name is being considered for the top cricket post," a
government source said.
Sources said that Butt is interested in getting an extension but
nothing was decided till President Asif Ali Zardari, who is PCB Patron,
left for Hong Kong on a private visit on Monday.
"Everything will be clear by next week because by that time it will
be known who will represent Pakistan at the International Cricket
Council Executive Board meeting on October 8 and 9th," one source said.
He said, so far Butt was scheduled to attend the meeting but that
could change at a short notice given the way the situation changes in
Pakistan cricket.
"Butt is not going to attend the meeting of the Asian Cricket Council
Finance Committee next month. Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad will
attend but Butt is definitely penciled in to attend the ICC meeting,"
the source said.
Butt has been perhaps the most vilified and criticised chairman of
the board since he took over in October 2008 and his critics blame him
for running a one-man show and also for damaging relations with the ICC
and other member nations.
But at the same time, his supporters point out that the performance
of the national team has improved a lot under Butt and he has succeeded
in not only breaking the players' power culture in the team but also
introducing a culture of discipline by building up the bench strength
and encouraging the policy of blooding new players.
"Don't forget he has also managed to keep the PCB afloat financially
despite no foreign team touring Pakistan and even after India cancelled
its full tour in early 2009 due to the Mumbai terror attacks," one
supporter said.
The uncertainty surrounding Butt's future is also obvious in the PCB,
with its employees unsure about what is going to happen in the next few
days.
"Whatever happens, the President must take a decision quickly and
clear the uncertainty because Pakistan has an important series against
Sri Lanka coming up and there is also the issue of appointing a new
coach," former Test captain Rashid Latif said.
PCB insiders say there have been no indications from Butt that he is
going as he has issued orders for projects in the near future.
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