Miandad accuses PCB of misusing funds; urges Zardari for a probe

Lahore, Sep 8 (UNI) Charging the PCB with misusing funds under Nasim Ashraf's chairmanship, legendary batsman Javed Miandad has urged the Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to probe into the financial affairs of the Board and punish those found guilty.

Miandad said Zardari, who is the chief patron of PCB, should order an inquiry into the board's affairs in the last two years.

''He is the chief patron and he should order a thorough investigation into the misuse of the board's funds and hold the guilty people accountable,'' Miandad said.

''The Pakistan Cricket Board has been damaged mostly because non technical people with no cricket background were handed the reigns by the previous government,'' the former captain said.

''Pakistan cricket needed to undergo a radical overhaul if it was to be put back on the right track.'' The 51-year-old right-handed batsman further said Zardari was the right man to clean up the cricket affairs.

Miandad also accused former PCB chief Ashraf for showing favouritism to family members by way of creating posts in the Board for his relatives and friends.

''I never heard of the post of Chief Operating Officer. There were chairman, secretaries and chief executive, but never a COO.

Such a post has been created to accommodate friends and relatives by Ashraf,'' he slammed.

However, sources said Zardari is likely to ask the Sports Ministry to take some strict decisions for the cricket set up.

There are also speculations that Zardari might opt for someone close to him as PCB chairman though the Sports Ministry has been stating that an ad-hoc committee will be appointed for the three months.

UNI XC PY RKM DS1532