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PCB vacillates on government overtures in Sohail affair

The official deadline has come, and gone. And the Pakistan Cricket Board is yet to respond to the compromise formula suggested, in l'affaire Aamir Sohail, by Syed Mushahid Hussain, advisor on sports to Pakistan Prime Minister Navaz Sharief.

Hussain had met, on Sunday, with PCB chairman Syed Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari and controversial cricketer Aamir Sohail, to suggest a formula designed to solve the impasse arising out of Sohail's allegations that senior members of the Pakistan cricket team including skipper Wasim Akram were involved in large-scale betting and match-fixing activities, and the consequent two-year ban imposed on Sohail by the PCB's disciplinary committee.

On Monday, Bukhari met with PCB chief executive and former Test star Majid Khan, secretary Waqar Ahmad and treasurer Salman Taseer at the Gadaffi Stadium to discuss the formula. However, Bukhari refused to give details of the decision arrived at, or even indicate whether any decision had in fact been taken.

The official response was merely that the PCB's decision would be announced by public relations officer Lt. Col. (retd.) Rafi Nasim on his return to the city. Bukhari added that the decision, as taken, would be in the best interests of both Pakistan and cricket in general.

Interestingly, the appointment of a PRO came as a sudden move by the PCB, subsequent to the meeting with the government official on Sunday. And a few eyebrows have been raised over the fact that the appointee happened, coincidentally, to be out of town when he was required to answer questions.

"The matter is not all that urgent," said Bukhari. "Therefore, we can wait till the PRO returns to Lahore and briefs the media about the PCB's decision."

An official announcement is expected later on Tuesday night.