Imran Khan slams Pak cricket set-up for promoting 'ghost clubs existing on papers'

Former Pakistani cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan has slammed the cricket set up in the country, saying that 'ghost' clubs existing on papers are being promoted.

Khan accused successive governments of using the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) top slot as a means of political patronage and of rewarding cronies like Najam Sethi, whom he lambasted as a 'man with no cricketing or any sporting credentials but merely as a reward for politically aiding the ruling party'.

According to the Daily Times, Khan rued that as a result of such policies, there has been a complete collapse of cricket in Pakistan despite the evident talent, adding that fraudulent 'ghost' clubs existing only on paper have been encouraged instead of facilitating genuine clubs, administrative infrastructure and genuine elections.

Seeking an end to fraudulent clubs, Khan demanded proper institutionalised restructuring of national cricket so that genuine clubs can flourish, which will help in the identification of national talent.

Khan further said that the PCB should make policy decisions while cricketing affairs should be managed full time by a professional chairman through a clear institutionalised cricketing set-up.