Zardari snubs PCB's request of playing stronger role in constitution draft committee

Islamabad, Jan.2 (ANI): President Asif Ali Zardari, as the patron of the board, has rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) request of having a stronger role in the formation of the constitutional draft review subcommittee.

According to a PCB official, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, the board has raised objections over giving representation to few of its officials without its consent and also wants to include few more governing-board members in the review committee.

"The Presidency's view over PCB's request is very clear that it is the Sports Ministry which has to decide over the administrative issues of the cricket board," The Dawn quoted the official, as saying.

It may be noted that the Sports Ministry had formed a subcommittee comprising Federal Sports Minister Aijaz Hussain Jahkarani to review the board's draft constitution.

The draft was sent to Zardari, in March 2009, for approval, but after some concerns raised by PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt before the NA Standing Committee on Sports and Public Accounts Committee over few clauses, the ministry had suggested some amendments and improvements in it.

Responding to a question that on what clauses the PCB would request the Sports Ministry to review the draft, the official said : "It's more about erasing the clause of revival of division cricket association, a system which is a better-served talent-hunt tool in many cricket-playing countries." (ANI)