After Miandad, will Tauqir Zia be replaced?

The 'topsy-turvy and volatile world' of Pakistan cricket is heading for another shake-up with reports indicating that the government favours a revamp of the cricket board, even as sacked coach Javed Miandad denies having said the series against New Zealand was fixed.

Islamabad daily The News on Monday said the Pakistan Cricket Board, led by powerful military general Tauqir Zia, is in "danger of being changed" due to its failure to stop politicking among its officials and players.

"What does not augur well for the present set-up is that apparently the board officials and members are lacking understanding and cohesion among themselves, something which has become more than obvious at the way developments have taken place since the time the Pakistan team went to New Zealand," the report said.

The PCB had sacked Miandad and captain Moin Khan after the team returned from a disastrous tour of New Zealand, where they lost the one-day series and settled for a draw in the Tests after taking a 1-0 lead. Some senior players including Wasim Akram, Ijaz Ahmed, Yousuf Youhana, Shoaib Akhtar and Azhar Mahmood were not included for the Sharjah triangular one-day series which started on Sunday.

"These are all tell-tale signs that the powers that be are possibly considering some changes in the cricket set-up shortly. But if they (changes) do come about it would be disappointing, considering the honest and sincere intentions of Tauqir Zia to introduce sanity and order in the otherwise topsy-turvy and volatile world of Pakistan cricket," the paper said.

There was no comment either from the government or PCB on the issue.

The report came as a surprise as Zia is one of the 12 top army commanders who form the power centre of military ruler Gen Parvez Musharraf. Besides being PCB chairman, Zia heads the army unit in Punjab province.

Serious differences of opinion within the board came to the fore when some insiders leaked the team manager's report, which reportedly blamed Miandad for growing tension in the Pakistan dressing room.

The paper said investigations by its correspondent confirmed that Zia, who shared a close rapport with Miandad, was very upset and disappointed at having been forced to ask the former coach to step down.

"If anything, Tauqir Zia would have by now realised that there are some people in Pakistan cricket who are basically opportunists and keen to make a quick buck here and there as well have their personal agendas," it said.

Miandad was sacked for the second time in three years though his contract with the board is till 2003. Zia later clarified that the former captain was not sacked but was given a break at his request. Miandad was included in the Advisory Council of the Board on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Miandad denies having charged some players with indulging in match-fixing in New Zealand.

"I was shocked to learn about the report quoting me as making match-fixing allegations. I outrightly deny making any such accusations in my statement issued on Saturday," Miandad said in a statement issued in Karachi.

Mail Cricket Editor