PakPassion presents an interview with PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf who has recently completed one year in the role after replacing previous incumbent Ijaz Butt. In this interview Ashraf speaks about the two matches being played between a Pakistan All Star XI and a visiting International World XI in Karachi this weekend.

By Saj Sadiq (21st October 2012)

PakPassion presents an interview with PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf who has recently completed one year in the role after replacing previous incumbent Ijaz Butt. In this interview Ashraf speaks about the two matches being played between a Pakistan All Star XI and a visiting International World XI in Karachi this weekend, his continued efforts to bring international cricket back to Pakistan, he also provides an update on the proposed India versus Pakistan series scheduled for later this year/early next year and speaks about his emphasis on discipline particularly after the recent fine of Abdul Razzaq. In addition the Chairman talks about some changes to domestic cricket in Pakistan, provides an update on the long awaited Pakistani T20 domestic competition which he hopes foreign players will take part in and also speaks about the recently advertised batting coach vacancy.

PakPassion.net : Thanks for your time today Mr Ashraf. 

Zaka Ashraf : My pleasure.


PakPassion.net : Let’s start by speaking about the two matches being played at the National Stadium in Karachi and organised by Dr Mohammad Ali Shah. Do you feel that the matches being played are of benefit in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s efforts to see the return of international cricket in Pakistan?

Zaka Ashraf : Dr Shah’s initiative is a very good one and I commend him for his efforts, but this is not international cricket. We have to realise that this team in Pakistan is a group of cricketers from around the world most of whom are not playing international cricket at the moment. These are in effect private matches where Dr Shah asked for help from the Pakistan Cricket Board and we provided him with the National Stadium Karachi, match officials and by allowing some of our contracted players to take part in the matches. Whatever facilities Dr Shah’s team asked for, we gave to them.


PakPassion.net : Despite the matches being as you put it, private, it must still be heartening to see international cricketers in Pakistan playing cricket and would you agree that it’s a positive step on the road to cricket returning to Pakistan?

Zaka Ashraf : Yes no doubt, it’s definitely a positive step and that is why the Pakistan Cricket Board has supported Dr Shah’s venture. It shows Pakistan cricket in good light and it portrays a good image of Pakistan particularly with regards to the number of people who turned out for the first match. I’m hoping that the matches will act as a confidence building measure for teams around the world to come and play cricket in Pakistan in front of passionate cricket lovers and I'm certain that the matches will restore confidence in Pakistan around the world.


PakPassion.net : What are the Pakistan Cricket Board’s next steps and plans with regards to pushing for the return of international cricket to Pakistan?

Zaka Ashraf : We are currently talking to different cricket Boards around the world. I’ve had meetings with several representatives from the full ICC member countries and they have agreed to consider coming to Pakistan. The main apprehension though remains the security situation in Pakistan. I’ve informed them that the security situation is not as bad as it was and the position is much better now and I’m sure the matches in Karachi this weekend will confirm this to the watching world. At the moment both Zimbabwe and Bangladesh has already agreed to come to Pakistan, so we are looking to finalise those plans very soon.


PakPassion.net : After the 2 matches in Karachi this weekend, is your next target to attempt to hold the domestic T20 competition with foreign players invited, or are you looking to go straight to hosting an international team? 

Zaka Ashraf : We are working on both fronts simultaneously. We are working towards an international team or two touring Pakistan in the near future as well as working on the finalisation of a domestic T20 tournament which will involve foreign players coming to Pakistan.

Regarding the T20 league that we have been planning for quite a while now, we are now planning to hold the competition in March 2013. I’m sure we will attract good players from all over the world for the competition and it will definitely be held in Pakistan. The inaugural tournament will see 5 teams competing with a team from Lahore, Sialkot, Karachi, Faisalabad and a combined team from Rawalpindi/Islamabad. We plan to start with five teams and then expand by adding one team each season after that.

We have a surprise coming up soon, one or two Boards are ready to tour Pakistan and although I cannot announce it just yet, we will be making a formal announcement soon. We made a decision in Colombo recently at the ICC meeting and the announcement will follow soon.


PakPassion.net : You can’t share the surprise with me at this time then?

Zaka Ashraf : No, as much as I would like to, unfortunately I’ve been told not to reveal details yet, but what I will say is that it’s great news for Pakistan cricket.


PakPassion.net : Moving onto the batting coach vacancy that was recently advertised by the PCB. Is this another move towards your plan to have professional coaches leading the way in Pakistan cricket?

Zaka Ashraf : Absolutely. I’ve made it clear that my ambition is that I want Pakistan to be the number one team in the world in 2013 and as part of that plan I want to have the best coaches working with the team. Zaheer Abbas and Intikhab Alam will form the selection panel and will decide upon who is given the job. My only request to them is that the best man should get the job whichever country they are from. Abbas and Alam are the same two individuals who selected Dav Whatmore and Julien Fountain and I’ve entrusted them with the task of finding an excellent batting coach.


PakPassion.net : Why has the role of batting coach only just been advertised. Is this not something that should have been in place already?

Zaka Ashraf : This wasn’t a request from Dav Whatmore or any other individual, rather it is something that the PCB felt we needed to have in place. We feel that our batsmen need certain levels of support and some help in building their confidence and also to make them mentally stronger, so the Board and I felt that we needed a professional batting coach in place to assist our batsmen.


PakPassion.net : Have you any other upcoming changes planned with regards to personnel amongst the coaching staff?

Zaka Ashraf : We are scrutinising the levels of fitness amongst our cricketers and will be inviting fitness trainers from outside Pakistan to hold sessions with our cricketers. In addition my Board and I have been assessing the levels of mental toughness of our cricketers as we feel that this is an issue that needs addressing. As a result of this we will be looking to hire a psychologist and also experts who work in the field of motivational speaking. When the batting coach is appointed we hope that together with the psychologist and the experts in motivational speaking we’ll see better utilisation of their skills by our batsmen and we will see an improvement in their levels of mental toughness and application to their batting.


PakPassion.net : We’ve seen some changes announced by the PCB with regards to domestic cricket and in particular the type of cricket balls to be used. How did that decision come about?

Zaka Ashraf : This was a suggestion that had come from the players. They demanded the type of cricket ball that we use in Pakistan be changed as we were practising and playing in domestic cricket with a different type of cricket ball, but when it came to playing overseas most teams were using an entirely different make of cricket ball. From what I was told by the cricketers we spoke to, the Kookaburra ball travels through the air faster than other cricket balls. So as a result of this we took on board the suggestions of the cricketers in Pakistan, spoke with the Executive committee and the coaches and have decided to change to the Kookaburra cricket ball in domestic cricket. 


PakPassion.net : Mohammad Hafeez, Dav Whatmore and Mohammad Akram were invited to the recent PCB's Executive Coordination Committee. Going forward will there be representation from the players and coaches at future ECC meetings?

Zaka Ashraf : No this will not be a regular thing but their input is always invaluable. My philosophy is that the experts that have been appointed by me should be the ones accountable for their decisions. I certainly don’t adopt a policy where I make all the decisions. 

We have the likes of Zakir Khan, Intikhab Alam and Javed Miandad in prominent positions at the Board and they have been entrusted with responsibility within their respective roles. They make recommendations via the cricket committee and then those recommendations reach the PCB's Executive Coordination Committee which I am a member of and we reach decisions by consensus after taking into account the views of the players, coaching staff and the cricket committee. We need everybody on board, the players, coaches and members of the various committees.


PakPassion.net : Discipline amongst Pakistani cricketers is something that you feel very strongly about and have stated this on various occasions. If that’s the case then why did Abdul Razzaq get away with a fine of rs100,000 after his recent comments to the media about T20 captain Mohammad Hafeez?

Zaka Ashraf : There is absolutely no doubt that Abdul Razzaq’s statements were out of order. Razzaq stated afterwards to me that what he had actually said was different to what was quoted by the media and his comments were made in the heat of the moment when he was feeling very emotional. Razzaq also said that he had just made a passing remark which the media blew out of proportion and that he was ashamed and embarrassed by what had occurred. 

During our meeting Razzaq was very apologetic and as a result we gave him the minimum punishment but he realised it could have been up to rs3,000,000. We stated to Razzaq that he needed to make a public apology to Mohammad Hafeez which he did and I feel that the outcome was the right one, as Razzaq was not too harshly dealt with but also firmly enough to make sure that he does not make the same mistake again. I feel the punishment was right for what occurred. 


PakPassion.net : What’s the latest update on the tour of India scheduled for later this year/early next year?

Zaka Ashraf : I held meetings with Mr Srinivasan the BCCI President in Sri Lanka recently aside from the ICC meetings and he said the series is on. Srinivasan said that they were looking to formally announce the series soon. So we now await the BCCI to formally announce the series which I term a bilateral friendship tour. This is a tour that will be there to mark the revival of Indian/Pakistani cricketing relations. We’ve agreed upon three one day internationals and two T20 internationals in India and it is a goodwill gesture from the PCB. Once our tour of India is complete then we will look ahead to hosting India and we will discuss the way ahead with Mr Srinivasan as to where the Pakistani home series against India will be played and what our options are. I plan to discuss the Pakistani home series against India when I am India for the series later this year.


PakPassion.net : You’ve been in the role of Chairman PCB now for just over a year how do you feel it’s going?

Zaka Ashraf : I’m enjoying the role, it’s a challenging one but my sole ambition is to serve Pakistan cricket to the best of my ability and I ask for the support of fans and media around the world. I look to work with integrity and in an atmosphere where people are respected.

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