Javed Miandad blames gambling and lack of administration for destroying Pakistan cricket

Miandad was twice relieved of his duties as Pakistan coach amidst rumours of match-fixing and gambling reports

Former Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad said that the lack of a proper administrative system and gambling are destroying cricket in the country, NDTV reports. He also claimed that present chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shaharyar Khan, was not the right man for the job.

“In our days, there was no match-fixing and neither did I ever gamble or else I wouldn't have got the respect I have today from the masses. But definitely gamblers and gambling is bad for Pakistan cricket," Miandad told Geo News.

Miandad has coached the Pakistan national team on three separate occasions and on two of those times, he was relieved of his duties amid rumours of gambling and match-fixing. In the first instance, Miandad filed his resignation just before the 1999 World Cup after he apparently confronted some players about their involvement in gambling while playing in a tournament in Sharjah.

This had led to unrest within the squad and Miandad opted to walk away. After being reinstated to the post in 2000, Miandad was sacked in April 2001 after the tour of New Zealand. Pakistan’s disappointing loss in the third Test match of the series, where they were skittled out for 104 and 118 in the first and second innings respectively, were met with reports of alleged match-fixing.

Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi had claimed in an interview with India Today that underworld dons Dawood Ibrahim and Chota Shakeel were controlling cricket betting and Miandad, whose son is ironically married to Dawood’s daughter, feels gambling is a real menace for the future of cricket in the country.

Miandad laments lack of proper system of cricket administration in Pakistan

Miandad feels present PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan is not the right choice for the post

The 58-year-old feels the nation's cricketing fortunes are being affected due to the absence of a proper administrative system and was extremely critical of the present PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan and his predecessor Najam Sethi.

"Unfortunately in Pakistan there is no proper system and whoever heads the board, the system runs according to his whims and fancies," Miandad said. I don't think Shaharyar Khan is the right choice for the Chairman's position. He is a cricket enthusiast but does not understand the nitty-gritty of the sport. Even Najam Sethi was not a good choice.”

Miandad, the only Pakistani cricketer to have played in six World Cups, however, threw his weight behind some of the previous chairmen and expressed sadness that his former teammate Imran Khan, though ideal for the post, cannot take up the role due to his political career.

"In my opinion, Lt General (retd) Tauqir Zia and Ijaz Butt were right for the Chairman's post. I don't think even Imran can head the board as he is so busy with politics."