Zaka Ashraf’s statement surprises http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 – Cricket News Update
Former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, Ijaz Butt, said he was surprised to hear the comments of his successor, Zaka Ashraf, who downplayed any efforts made by his predecessor for the resumption of cricket with arch-rivals India.
On a short visit to their close-neighbours last week, Butt held meetings with the some of the top officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and on his return, revealed significant developments regarding the state of Pakistani players and their
involvement in the Indian Premier League’s next edition.
The ex-chief reiterated that he had already informed http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, only to be caught off guard with the current chairman’s remarks, who discarded his initiative and refused to comment on any such advancements with the
Men in Blue.
“I was very surprised to read my friend’s [Zaka] comments regarding my earlier statement given in good faith to your paper,” said the 74-year-old.
He further asserted that the steps he took were in the best interest of the PCB and the country, and dismissed any suggestions of personal gains. Butt’s three-year tenure was marked with controversies, including high-profile fall-outs with players and coaches,
while in 2010, three Men in Green players were found guilty of spot-fixing and were sentenced to jail.
“I would like to clarify here that I had written to Mr. Zaka Ashraf that I am going to India on my own and if he agrees, I could talk to some of my friends like Rajiv Shukla and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 matches,” added Butt.
The former PCB chief however, added that he is ready to help Ashraf in his endeavours, but conceded that someone in the board has been misguiding the chairman. The current surpemo at present is in India, where he went to watch the final of the IPL before
deciding to extend his stay for a further couple of days on BCCI’s insistence.
“I am fully with Mr. Zaka Ashraf for his efforts to get the foreign teams to visit Pakistan and to finalise India-Pakistan matches as soon as possible. Best of luck to Mr. Zaka Ashraf,” he concluded.
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