Miandad flexing his muscle as PCB director-general

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has started flexing his muscles in cricket related matters as the director-general of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Miandad, who played a major role in getting Sri Lanka's cricket tour to Pakistan on track, is also showing his authority in the domestic structure.
The posting of two new umpires, Akram Raza and Kamal Merchant, for the final of the Pentangular one-day tournament is one example where even the umpires' manager in the Board and other officials had disagreed with the idea of posting two new fresh faces for such a big final.
But Miandad stuck to his guns overruling other officials, including the umpires' manager.
"These two guys have been very prominent first class players and Akram has even played nine Tests and 49 One-day Internationals. They had been umpiring in domestic cricket for the last two years but were not given an opportunity to stand in big matches. I felt it was the right time to blood them," Miandad said.
He said he planned to have more former prominent players to officiate matches as they stood a better chance of being selected in the international panel of umpires.
"I don't care what anyone says as long as my conscience is clear that I have taken decisions which are in the larger interests of Pakistan cricket," he said.
He said it was unfair to restrict Akram and Kamal to non first class and junior level matches given their vast experience as players.
It is no secret that Miandad has been brought into the Board on direct orders of President Asif Zardari, who is also the chief patron of the PCB.
"Miandad has close relations with Zardari who respects his cricketing knowledge and background. He is the strongest official in the Board right now," one source said.
Some days back Miandad had overruled a decision taken by other senior officials of PCB to postpone the Pentangular Cup to next year.
Miandad, as director-general of cricket, has absolute powers and the selectors, national coach and manager are required to work under his guidance.
"Don't be surprised if Miandad is directly involved in preparing for the coming series against Sri Lanka. Don't be surprised if he is involved in the selection of the team as well as preparing the game plan for the coming series," one well informed source said.
Since retirement, Miandad has been appointed national team coach thrice but on all three occasions he had to leave the job in acrimonious circumstances, complaining about not being given enough authority and support by the Board to implement his decisions.
But this time sources say the situation is different as he enjoys absolute powers and the full backing of President Zardari.
"It was the decision of the President to appoint him as ambassador for cricket in China and the Chairman Ejaz Butt was simply informed about the decision by the government and had no say in it," sources said.
Miandad made it clear that it was for the first time he has been given a position of power in the Board and he was keen to reorganise Pakistan's domestic cricket structure and improve things in other areas as well.
"I have been given a responsibility and the people have faith in me. I will not let them down as all my decisions would be in interest of Pakistan cricket and nothing else," he said.