Islamabad's Constitution Avenue houses all the major federal government offices. It also houses the headquarters of Pakistan Televison (PTV) where, on the third floor, sits Majid Khan, Pakistan’s stylish opener of the 1970s.Unlike his peers, who face the cameras, Majid’s involvement is in a purely administrative capacity. He is Director (Training) and is concerned with the Academy being run by PTV which trains in-house engineers, producers and cameramen .As a member of the great Pakistan team of the 1970s, Majid was as big a contributor as the other champions of that team Zaheer Abbas, Imran Khan (his cousin) and Asif Iqbal. His graceful batting was always a pleasing sight.Once he retired, Majid took to television well before his contemporaries did, heading PTV’s sports department. But after a spell as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO from 1996-99 and also a chief National selector, Majid Khan now stays far away from the game. Ask him if he misses staying away from the game, he smiles and replies ‘‘I am enjoying and happy with what I am doing now’’.His link with the game is through his son Bazid, currently on the fringes of the national team. In a freewheeling chat with The Indian Express, Majid Khan spoke about his son, his TV career and also on the game in general.Why don’t we see you in commentary boxes like your contemporaries?• I am not someone who can sit and watch every ball. Rather, I am unwilling to do such a thing. And TV commentary would just to be too tedious for me. I also feel after a point of time you become very repetitive. The only way I follow cricket is if someone comes and tells me the score. Else I just watch two balls and am off.Is your son Bazid in the same mould as you?• I don’t know. I haven’t seen him lately, but I have been told he is international material. Even a first-class umpire called me the other day and said ‘‘Your son is very promising’’.Why has he still not made it into the Pakistan team?• Chairman of selectors Wasim Bari once told me that Bazid had been selected two years ago for two one-day tournaments in Singapore and Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, though, when the team was sent for PCB chairman Tauqir Zia’s approval, he discussed it with his council and they decided to drop Bazid from the team.Any particular reason for this?• It is the Pakistan team coach Javed Miandad who does not want Bazid in the side. You see there is conflict of interests here. He (Miandad) wants his nephew Faisal Iqbal to be given a place in the side. And in Bazid he sees a potential rival to that place. It is as simple as that. There is a feeling Bazid is not suited for one-day cricket.Your innings as PCB Chief Executive Officer was eventful, with match-fixing charges being levelled at several players. Any chances of seeing you back as an administrator?• There is no chance of my coming back. I don’t think I will be offered anything again. I enjoyed my time as the CEO from 1996 to 1999 and feel I did a reasonable job. We started a few things, but unfortunately the board was suspended and stays so even today. The PCB of today is still an adhoc body.How would you compare the current Indian team with those of the past?• It’s a great team no doubt and the batting is good. But I can’t compare teams, it’s not right to do so. The eras are different and the strategies have changed. This Indian team, though, has a lot of potential. But it’s very difficult to say if their batting is the best going around, given the might of the Australians.
