LAHORE: Former Test cricketer and ex-chief operating officer of the Pakistan Cricket Board Salim Altaf has suggested to patron-in-chief of the Board, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to set aside all apprehensions and bring in former captain Majid Khan as new PCB chairman as he is a man of integrity with an impeccable reputation who can pull Pakistan cricket out of its present crisis.

“Rumours are in the air that the premier is not ready to induct Majid because he is the cousin of his main political rival Imran Khan. But I believe that since the prime minister is looking for the right man for PCB job, I request him not to see this as a political decision but a decision for the betterment of a sports body which has been ruined by people who have no link with cricket,” said Salim in an exclusive talk with Dawn here on Monday.

“In the last tenure of Majid from 1996 to 1999, Pakistan besides playing the final of the World Cup (1999), spotted and promoted several talented youngsters like Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Azhar Mahmood, Abdul Razzaq and Mohammad Wasim who went on to represent the country with aplomb,” said Salim who also served the PCB as chief selector.

He said all the mess in the PCB was due to poor and bad administration which failed to impose any discipline in the game or control the player-power. “I can bet that in the presence of a competent and high-calibre man like Majid, there will be no player-power or needless controversies in the future,” he said.

“The player-power emerges only due to weak administration. I well remember that when I as chief selector picked up Shoaib Akhtar and sent him to England, then manager Agha Zahid declared Shoaib as the fastest bowler having great prospects for the future,” recalled Salim.

“But when we sent him (Shoaib) to South Africa in 1997-98 tour, skipper Rashid Latif wanted to send him back home after the very first 50-over match. It was Majid as PCB chief who stood firm and the national team had to retain Shoaib who later took five wickets and bowled superbly to help Pakistan win a fantastic Test match.

“Also, I remember how at first Shoaib who played for PIA but was not getting any chances in domestic matches. Shoaib complained to me that Zaheer Abbas (then manager of PIA team) was not giving him much opportunity and he wanted to switch to KRL side,” said Salim.

“Realising that the future of the big fast bowler can be spoiled in this way, I spoke to Majid Khan and got special permission from him to get Shoaib released from PIA to induct him in the KRL team. There, he proved a match winner for KRL and you can say that Majid saved Shoaib’s career, otherwise our poor system could have destroyed him for good.”

Salim further recalled how respected a figure Majid was in world of cricket. “I am an eye witness to how much regard and respect Majid has in the world of cricket and how well he can present Pakistan’s case at the ICC to improve the country’s image which has been tarnished of late,” said Salim.

“I will once again request the prime minister not to ignore a man like Majid just because he is related to Imran. Majid is the best person for PCB chairman’s post at the moment who can deliver for sure.

“Though Intikhab Alam is a nice person, he lacks man-management skills and same is the case with Waqar Younis who undoubtedly was one of the greatest fast bowlers ever but had problems in tackling the boys,” he said.

“A weak selection committee headed by Haroon Rashid erred badly by making frequent changes to a team which they had themselves picked and that made Pakistan cricket a laughing stock.

“Certainly, Majid will not be a favourite with the various mafias ruling our cricket today and who are plundering funds and ruining the game due to their poor planning, but that is the kind of man we want at the helm at PCB,” Salim insisted.

“Otherwise, there is no way the present lot governing the board can rescue Pakistan cricket since they have their own agendas to pursue.

“We have already lost pride in hockey and squash and the days are not far when cricket will meet a similar fate if serious and sincere measures are not taken,” he warned.

“Our domestic cricket has no quality to compete with the international standard and that needs to be lifted on war-footing for better results in the future.”

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2016