ISLAMABAD: The Senate Special Committee, assigned to examine the overall working of the Sports Federations in the country, on Friday expressed disappointment over Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi for not appearing in the meeting and directed to ensure his presence next time.
The special committee meeting, chaired by Senator Dr Ashok Kumar, was held here at the Old PIPS Hall of the Parliament Lodges.
In the meeting, PCB Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed and Advisor to PCB Chairman Shakil Sheikh briefed the committee on the deployment of contractual employees in PCB.
Subhan informed the committee that Najam Sethi had a meeting with PSL franchise team owners, therefore, he was unable to ensure his presence in its meeting. He further informed the committee that currently there are 866 total employees in PCB to which the committee asked PCB to provide them with their list at the next meeting.
Subhan informed the committee about the cricket academies in Lahore, Multan and Karachi.
“We have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to build an academy at the Arbab Niaz Stadium,” he said.
The committee also discussed cricketer Sharjeel Khan’s matter to which Subhan informed the committee that he was found guilty by the tribunal for his involvement in Pakistan Super League (PSL) spot-fixing scandal.
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Administrator Justice (R) Asad Munir also briefed the committee about football affairs in the country.
He informed that the court had appointed him as there were two parallel groups functioning and things were not heading in right direction. “We need funds to hold football activities in the country,” he added.
The committee asked Aasad Munir of why 6 out of 7 PFF’s vehicles are still in use with the two parallels groups and directed him to take legal action against them to recover the vehicles.
All sports representatives from regional boards also briefed the committee on the working of sports activities at the grass-root level. The committee asked the regional boards to take precedent from Punjab Sports Board’s (PSB) working on sports activities.
Senators including Agha Shahzaib Khan Durrani, Shibli Faraz, Col (R) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh, Taj Haider and Kalsoom Perveen were also present in the meeting.
Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Secretary Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, PSB Director General Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera and other officials also attended the meeting.
