No mercy towards players bringing in bad name to Pak: Ashraf

Ashraf made it clear that he will deal with an iron hand with players who bring bad name to Pak.

The new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zaka Ashraf has made it clear that he will deal with an iron hand with players who bring bad name to Pakistan with their illegal and unethical behaviour.

“Since I was appointed Chairman of the board on October 11,people have been calling me up from all over the world and urging me to bring in improvement to Pakistan cricket and the board,” he said.

“One thing is clear in my mind I will not tolerate any groupings or monopoly either in the board or in the national team. There is no question of compromise on this issue.

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“Secondly,it is a fact that some cricketers have been responsible for bringing a bad name to Pakistan and Pakistanis all over the world and I can only tell those players that they will be dealt with an iron hand and no leniency will be shown to them,” he added.

Pakistan’s image has taken a beating in the last two years because of the involvement of some players in not only spot-fixing but also in unethical practices.

Ashraf,however,ruled out any immediate changes in the board or national team management.

The successful farmer-cum-businessman has been chosen by President Asif Zardari to head the board and did not give Ijaz Butt an extension after his completion of three-year tenure on October 8.

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Ashraf,who will take charge from tomorrow,also said that he would continue to enforce the positive and productive policies of his predecessor Butt but would rectify the failed or wrong policies of the board.

“I will only try to change those policies that didn’t benefit either the team or the PCB,” he said.