Ijaz hints at alternate venues

Lahore, Oct. 9: Ijaz Butt, the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has hinted that Pakistan could consider the option of playing a home series at alternate venues, if the current security situation remains the same.

Ijaz, who took office after the issuance of the official notification from the President’s office, said: "The holding of the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan depends on the security condition of the country and if the current indefinite situation prevails further we may consider the option to play on alternate venues."

Due to the security concern of various cricketing nations, the ICC had postponed the Champions Trophy for next year. However, it still kept Pakistan as the host of the championship for which a decision is likely to be taken in Dubai in a two-day meeting starting from October 14.

To a question about the ban on several Test and International cricketers for joining the breakaway Indian Cricket League, Ijaz, also a former Test cricketer, said there were reports that some boards were permitting their players to play domestic cricket and the PCB would take a decision after consulting the other boards.

Around 20 prominent cricketers from Pakistan are playing the ICL, thus they are not allowed to represent the national team and also not to play domestic cricket.

Meanwhile, Ijaz’s appointment was confirmed by an official notification from the Federal Sports Ministry on Wednesday.

The notification says: "The President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in his capacity as Patron of the Cricket Board in exercise of the powers vested in him under Article-5 of the Constitution of the PCB is pleased to appoint Mr Ijaz Butt as Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board with immediate effect for a period of three years."

Ijaz was born on March 10, 1938 in Sialkot. He graduated from Government College Lahore in 1959. He did his PMD from Harvard Business School, Harvard University, in 1969 and SMP from Harvard Business School, Harvard University, Vevy, Switzerland in 1978.

Before his appointment as Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, Ijaz was member of the PCB Governing Board and also head of the Internal Audit Committee. He was also the Honorary Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan (then BCCP) in the 1980s.

By arrangement with Dawn