KARACHI, May 17: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has once again made mockery of its much trumpetted laid down policy of transparency and merit in hiring professionals.

The latest example of PCB’s U-turn has been the appointment of former Test cricketer Mudassar Nazar, who is not a qualified coach, as director of Lahore-based National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Ironically the former allrounder had also served as national team coach but was unceremoniously sacked while the team was competing in the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.

He has also the dubious distinction of having allegedly accused his own teammates of ball tampering.

As usual PCB advertised the post in national dailies for director NCA making it clear that only those individuals who have passed England and Wales Cricke Board (ECB) Level-3 course should apply for the position.

Those who applied for the job were former Pakistan captains Mushtaq Mohammad and Intikhab Alam as well as ex-Test cricketers Jalaluddin and Haroon Rashid. Incidentally Mushtaq, Jalal and Haroon Rashid are amongst the seven Pakistanis who have passed ECB Level-3 course.

Bearing in mind PCB’s track record on transparency and merit it came as no surprise when the board did not even bothered to invite Jalaluddin and Haroon Rashid for interview.

Only Mushtaq and Intikhab were interviewed for couple of minutes for the sake of so called transparency and merit.

The PCB chairman, when questioned by journalists during one of his frequent press conferences recently held in Karachi, had no answer to the selection of Mudassar Nazar in preference to such greats as Intikhab and Mushtaq under whom Pakistan won the World Cup in 1992 and reached the final in 1999 respectively.

Opinion

Editorial

Last call
Updated 15 Nov, 2024

Last call

PTI should hardly be turning its "final" protest into a "do or die" occasion.
Mini budget talk
15 Nov, 2024

Mini budget talk

NO matter how much Pakistan’s finance managers try to downplay the prospect of a ‘mini budget’ to pull off a...
Diabetes challenge
15 Nov, 2024

Diabetes challenge

AMONGST the many public health challenges confronting Pakistan, diabetes arguably does not get the attention it...
China security ties
Updated 14 Nov, 2024

China security ties

If China's security concerns aren't addressed satisfactorily, it may affect bilateral ties. CT cooperation should be pursued instead of having foreign forces here.
Steep price
14 Nov, 2024

Steep price

THE Hindu Kush-Himalayan region is in big trouble. A new study unveiled at the ongoing COP29 reveals that if high...
A high-cost plan
14 Nov, 2024

A high-cost plan

THE government has approved an expensive plan for FBR in the hope of tackling its deep-seated inefficiencies. The...