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Pak gets new selectors, but will they play?

The ad-hoc committee running Pakistan cricket in place of the suspended Pakistan Cricket Board has named a new selection committee, comprising chairman Naushad Ali (a former wicketkeeper), former captain turned television commentator Ramiz Raja, and former first class player Abdur Raquib.

While a new captain has not been named yet, it is expected that within the next few days, Moin Khan will be named to replace suspended captain Wasim Akram.

Wasim, who met the chairman of the ad-hoc committee last week and who is now undergoing interrogation into the charges against him, has said he is ready to play under Moin Khan. However, the Ehteshab Bureau, which indicted him along with Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed on charges of match-fixing, has recommended that the three players should not be considered for selection until the charges are either proved or disproved.

This process is now in the hands of Lahore high court judge Malik Mohammad Qayyum, who heads the commission of inquiry probing the charges. His final report is expected to be filed sometime later this month.

Pakistan's immediate calender includes the annual five-match ODI series in Toronto, Canada, against India -- which is in doubt following the pullout of the sponsors, Sahara India, in the wake of the Kargil conflict. Pakistan will then feature in a tri-nation tournament, with the West Indies and Sri Lanka making up the other sides, in Sharjah in October before going to Australia for a three-match Test series followed by a one day triangular.

However, at the time of writing this, the Sharjah event, like the one in Toronto, is in doubt with Pakistan threatening to pull out following a monetary row.

Abdul Rehman Bukathir, head of the CBFS, is in fact expected in Lahore this week to negotiate with Pakistan's interim cricket chief, Mujeeb ur Rehman, and persuade them not to pull out.

The genesis of the controversy lies in the fact that the Pakistan board has been assured only US $225,000 for appearing in the tournament, whereas the organisers stand to net $25 million. The tournament is slated between October 13-22.

Adding to the confusion, meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has called on the government and cricket authorities to ensure that the national team does not play anywhere until the ongoing inquiries into match-fixing and other allegations are complete in every particular.

``Pakistan should not play international cricket until the issue is resolved because it is damaging the national image as well as the image of players,'' Imran Khan said, adding that it was humiliating to live under the shadow of match-fixing and bribery.

Imran also criticised the Ehteshab Bureau and the ad hoc governing committee for going public before the Quayyum commission of inquiry had filed its report.