Anwar to Cover

LAHORE: Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt met former Test cricketer Saeed Anwar on Wednesday, with the chairman indicating his inclination that the ex-opener will be engaged by the game’s authorities for contributing his share to boost the game in the country.



‘The PCB chairman today had a discussion with former Test cricketer Saeed Anwar on utilising his services for cricket. PCB chief and Saeed will meet in the coming week to discuss the plan in detail,’ said a statement issued by the PCB.



Commenting on his discussion with 40-year-old Saeed, Ijaz said: ‘I am thankful for Saeed’s encouraging response and his offer to assist the PCB and Pakistan players. I am sure Saeed will be able to contribute a lot to Pakistan cricket,’ a PCB official press release stated.

Saeed played 55 Tests for Pakistan between 1990 and 2001, accumulating 4052 runs at the average of 45.52, featuring 11 centuries and 25 half-centuries.



The dashing batsman who paired with opener Aamir Sohail during the 1990s, also featured in 247 One-day Internationals, amassing 8824 runs at 39.21 with the help of 20 centuries and 43 half-centuries.



Saeed, a sweet timer of the ball, reached the pinnacle in 1997 when he smashed Viv Richards’ world record (189) by playing one-day cricket’s biggest knock of 194 against India at Chennai. The left-handed batsman quit international cricket after the 2003 World Cup.



Though the PCB chairman has not mentioned which position he will offer to Saeed, sources said the former opening batsman might be tried as batting coach.



However, the decision might be seen as debatable while considering Saeed’s record in the match-fixing issue that emerged in the late 1990s and the subsequent fine of Rs100,000 imposed on him by the one-man Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum Commission in 2000.


‘In Saeed Anwar’s favour a lot of people have said he is clean. Even one of the tapes seems to support this. In light of the above, this commission itself unable to find any compelling evidence to the requisite standard that Saeed was involved in match-fixing a particular match.

However, with the totality of evidence this commission does believe that Saeed has by his actions brought doubt onto himself. Further, this commission felt that Saeed was withholding some evidence from the commission. In light of all of this it is recommended that Saeed be fined Rs100,000 and that he be kept under observation,’ according to the Justice Qayyum ruling.



Apart from Saeed and Saleem Malik who was facing life ban imposed on him by the Justice Qayyum Commission before a court waived the ban recently, other players who were fined by the Commission were Wasim Akram (Rs300,000), Mushtaq Ahmed (Rs300,000), Ata-ur-Rehman (Rs100,000), Waqar Younis (Rs100,000), Inzamam-ul-Haq (Rs100,000) and Akram Raza (Rs100,000).

PCB on Back foot

The PCB is currently facing major financial problems because of the shifting or cancellation of a number of money-making events like the home series against India and the ICC Hotels are expensive in UAE where Pakistan hosted its one-day series against Australia earlier this year and had to spend more than 10 million rupees on private security guards alone.

The series to be played in Pakistan initially was relocated because of security apprehensions.

According to sources, senior PCB officials were having second thoughts about holding the series in New Zealand as they are unsure whether the board’s marketing team will be able to sell the series for a sufficient amount.

The PCB mulled over the option of hosting the Test series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi but gave it up after realising that it would cost almost a million dollars to stage the series there.

New Zealand was believed to be a cheaper option because of inexpensive hotels and also the PCB would not have to make any extra security arrangements. But NZC’s demand has put the PCB in a tight spot.