Pakistan cricket in a spin over reforms

But the International Cricket Council,the sport8217;s world governing body,says all its members must cease that practice before June 2013 or face sanctions that could include suspension.

The Pakistan Cricket Board PCB defends the government appointed system as 8220;needful and a system which has worked successfully in the past.8221;

Not so,say some notable former players from the cricket-obsessed country,where the game has suffered a slew of high-profile corruption cases off the field yet remains a unifying national force in the face of adversity.

Pakistan8217;s only World Cup-winning captain,Imran Khan,is the most prominent critic of a system which sees the country8217;s president hand-pick the PCB8217;s top man a high profile post because of the sport8217;s popularity.

8220;This is the most unique system in the world with the president of the country,who doesn8217;t have time,appointing the chairman of the cricket board,8221; said Khan,who turned to politics after giving up the game.

8220;We need to have an elected PCB president chairman and an elected council,and if we make our cricket board an institution,then Pakistan can dominate world cricket as we have more talent than other countries.8221;

Former spinner Iqbal Qasim underlined the frustrations of many within the game in Pakistan who believe the national team is being held back by poor administration.

8220;We need to devise a proper system,even an overhaul,with more and more representation of former cricketers,and all those who have the ability to make strong decisions,8221; he said.

It is clear from the numbers why ex-players are demanding change. Of the 26 PCB chairmen since 1948,only five are former players,among them incumbent Ijaz Butt.

The job,which comes with a hefty pay packet and plenty of prestige,has usually gone to military men,judges and politicians. The country8217;s president must also approve all nine members of the cricket board. The PCB insists the status quo works just fine.

8220;It should be appreciated that the system that has propelled Pakistan to the top of the cricket world has been in place for approximately 60 years and cannot certainly be labelled as faulty,8221; said the PCB.

The board also says that a one-size-fits-all directive cannot be imposed on Pakistan because of the unique security situation it faces,with international sides unwilling to visit after a gun attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009.

Eight Pakistanis were killed and seven Sri Lanka players,along with an assistant coach,wounded,and the cricket administration says it needs government support to woo back touring teams.

Despite calls for more ex-players to be involved in the PCB,Butt8217;s tenure has been a turbulent one. Butt8217;s office would not comment,but his supporters say that the rot set in well before he arrived,with doping,match-fixing,defection and discipline problems all dogging the game in Pakistan in the last few years.