'Removing Butt only way of salvaging cricket in Pak'

Islamabad, Jan.19 (ANI): Blasting Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt for his messy work in the board's administration, noted sports expert, Zakir Hussain Syed has said that replacing him might change the PCB's future.

Criticising the PCB for its policies, Syed said the board has done nothing to improve the standard of the game at the domestic level.

He came down hard on the board for Pakistan's awful performance in the Test series against Australia, comparing the squad with a local team.

"Our national team is performing like a domestic level unit.We had not a solitary batsmen who could face the kangaroos pacers bravely throughout the series that Pakistan lost 3-0 and missed a golden chance to register a win in the Sydney Test," The Nation quoted Syed, as saying.

Syed, who had served as the Director General of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), also called for replacing wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, saying the catches dropped by him during the Sydney Test cost Pakistan the match.

"Team needs a professional wicketkeeper, who has safe hands behind the stumps. But, unfortunately, the board is not in any position to make a decision," he said.

Responding to a question regarding PCB's role and strategy, Syed underlined that it should work out a strong policy to control players like Shahid Afridi, who had preferred T20 and One-day cricket over the five-day game.

"Shahid Afridi does not like to play Test cricket for Pakistan and he apologies for this but is busy playing cricket in Australia and South Africa. We should bound national players to prefer Pakistan," he said. (ANI)