Premium
This is an archive article published on September 16, 2003

145;My son can146;t be skipper146;

Finally, Pakistan Cricket Board PCB chief Tauqir Zia was forced to draw the line. In a move that sports officials in India could emulate, ...

.

Finally, Pakistan Cricket Board PCB chief Tauqir Zia was forced to draw the line. In a move that sports officials in India could emulate, Zia on Monday 8216;overruled8217; the PCB8217;s decision to name his son Junaid as captain of the under-23 team for this month8217;s Emerging Nations tournament in Sri Lanka.

Zia8217;s younger son, Tallal, played for the Pakistan under-15 team in the Asia Cup held in Dubai recently.

The PCB8217;s official statement on Monday said: 8216;8216;Junaid is too young to lead8217;8217;. He will be replaced as captain by Qaiser Abbas but will accompany the team as deputy to Abbas in the three-nation tournament, which also features Sri Lanka and India.

The decision comes in the wake of growing criticism of Zia jr8217;s debut for the senior team against Bangladesh in the current one-day series.

Junaid, a 19-year-old fast bowler, made his one-day international debut at Multan last week but returned wicketless after conceding 35 runs in seven overs. His selection was criticised in the local media, but Junaid returned to claim 3/21 in the second one-day international at Faisalabad.

Though the decision comes just a day after Zia retired as a Lieutenant-General in the Pakistan Army, the controversy surrounding Junaid is not new. He first came into prominence at last year8217;s under-19 World Cup in New Zealand, where he was called for suspect action by an Indian match referee.

The PCB chief then hired Australian coach Darryl Foster, who corrected Shoaib Akhtar8217;s action, to work on his son. With an improved action, Junaid made his first-class debut for Rawalpindi but he was far from impressive 16 wickets in six matches at 42 apiece.

Story continues below this ad

When contacted by The Indian Express, PCB CEO Rameez Raja said Zia had not overruled the decision. The practice within the selection committee was to send the names of the team and captain to the PCB chief for his approval. The names had been leaked before Zia Sr could take a decision, Raja said. With agencies

 

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement