Karachi, Oct 2 (IANS) Iqbal Mohammad Ali, chairman of the Pakistani National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports, has urged the authorities to appoint a ‘Hitler-like’ manager for the national cricket team. The outspoken Ali said that only a strict disciplinarian can keep the players under control especially on foreign tours.
‘The team needs a manager like Hitler,’ Ali was quoted as saying in The Express Tribune Saturday. ‘He should be strict and should not favour any player. Only a manager of such quality can put the team on the right track during international series.’
Ali believed that the spot-fixing scandal that marred Pakistan’s tour of England could have been avoided had the manager carried out his duties properly.
‘Everybody knows Shahid Afridi informed the manager about his worries regarding Mazhar Majeed weeks before the scandal. The manager should have acted there and then.’
Yawar Saeed, who was the team’s manager during the tour, ruled himself out of taking up the position in the future and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is yet to name a new manager for the series against South Africa due to take place in the UAE later this month.
‘The board should select a competent manager who can handle the team properly and avoid such events in the future.’
Ali added that the Sports Standing Committee has summoned the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt, former team manager Saeed, coach Waqar Younis, assistant coaches Ijaz Ahmed and Aqib Javed, and the selection committee chairman Mohsin Khan Oct 11.
‘We will take their reports on the team’s performance in the Asia Cup and the England tour as well as the fixing allegations. There are many questions about selection which we will raise during the meeting including the omission of Younis Khan for the tour of England despite his need in the team.’
