Heads may roll in PCB after losing 2011 WC: sources

Karachi, Apr 18 (PTI) Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman
Ejaz Butt and other officials could find themselves facing the
axe from the government after the International Cricket
Council's decision to shift the 2011 World Cup matches from
Pakistan due to security reasons.

Sources in the Sports Ministry said that President Asif
Ali Zardari, who is also the Chief Patron of the Board, was
certain to ask for a detailed report on the situation that led
to Pakistan losing the World Cup rights.

"There is every possibility there might be changes in the
Board to allow Pakistan cricket to make a fresh start with
new faces," one source said.

The sources pointed out that since Butt took over as
Chairman last October, nothing had gone right for Pakistan
cricket.

"We have gained nothing but lost a lot and the final
straw was losing the World Cup hosting rights at a time when
the government is trying hard to revive the economy and
convince other countries to invest in the country," one source
said.

Butt and other PCB officials also came under strong
criticism from many former captains and players after the ICC
announced its decision Friday.

Many of them felt the Board had not done enough homework
or taken things seriously enough to lobby in the world of
cricket and ICC and prevent the World Cup matches from being
moved from Pakistan.

The sources said the helplessness of Butt in the face of
the ICC decision had also not gone down well with government
ministers who were already unhappy with Butt's performance.

"Already after the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team
in Lahore in March for which many government officials feel
the PCB is also responsible for its lack of responsibility and
Butt has been under pressure to retain his position," one
source said.

He said now there were indications that Pakistan lost the
World Cup hosting rights because member countries at the ICC
Executive Board meeting in Dubai did not show confidence in
the PCB's ability to provide adequate security for touring
teams.

"The word is that Butt came under pressure at the ICC
meeting after the feedback given to the ICC Executive Board
members on the attack on the Sri Lankan team," the source
said.

A Board official admitted that if Pakistan lost to
Australia in the one-day series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai that
could be the final blow for Butt and his men in the Board and
they would find it hard to retain their seats in the PCB. PTI