PCB suspends NCA program started by Sohail

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board has suspended a development program for emerging players at its Lahore-based National Academy as it was started by former Test captain Aamer Sohail who resigned as the institution's head earlier this week.
Officials in the board and academy confirmed that most of the players training or lodged at the NCA under the emerging players program had been sent back home after Sohail resigned last week as Director of the NCA and game development project citing personal reasons.
"It is a big setback to Pakistan cricket as Sohail, with his coaches, had picked some very talented players in the emerging players program including a left arm fast bowler, Mohammad Irfan who is 6'10 inches tall," one official said.
Irfan, who hails from Multan, and other players were picked by Sohail when he took charge last year but the project petered out as the PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt and other officials delayed allocating a proper budget for the programs.
"The board has decided to review the working of the NCA and its coaching programs and will resume activities under a new management," one official said.
Former Test batsman Haroon Rasheed has been named as acting director of the NCA since Sohail resigned and he has made it clear that if offered a fulltime position he would accept it.