PCB budget 20 % bigger than previous year: Shafqat Naghmi

Chief operating officer Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that the budget of the board this year is 20 per cent bigger than the budget for the previous year.

Shafqat Naghmi said that the PCB budget of Rs 3.9 billion for the year 2008 has been approved which is 20 per cent bigger than compared with the previous year.

Shafqat Naghmi said that 60 per cent of the budget would be spent on development of players and tours while the remaining amount would be spent on construction of 35 district level grounds in the country and the old grounds would be renovated and full facilities of cricket would be provided in the grounds.

Regarding Mohammad Asif case, he said that unless the Dubai committee does not give us the complete report on the case we won take any action.

Pakistan likely to call up additional wicketkeeper

Kamran Akmal's continuing descent behind the stumps has forced the Pakistan team management to call for another wicketkeeper to boost their squad for the remainder of the current tour against India. Though not officially confirmed yet, Sarfraz Ahmed, the promising young wicketkeeper, will be the man going to India.

Akmal has had a shocking ODI series behind the stumps in India: he has dropped four catches in three matches, including a reprieve to Sourav Ganguly off the first ball of the third ODI in Kanpur. Sadly for Pakistan and Akmal, it is merely a continuation of the poor form that has plagued him over the last 18 months, where he has spilled chances regularly in England, South Africa and at home.

The selectors were keen on sticking with him through the India tour, given his experience and the high-profile nature of the contest, but so fragile have his performances become, they have been left with no other option.

Akmal, however, will remain in India and officials stress that the selection is of a back-up, not a replacement. Akmal has, according to officials, aggravated a hand injury, which has both hampered his performances and now requires rest.

"Akmal played with injury today [in Kanpur] and it worsened, so the team decided to ask for an additional wicketkeeper,"

Javed Akhtar, the team's media co-ordinator, told.

"The management requested the board for another wicketkeeper,"

an official told.

"Akmal will stay on in India. He has a problem in his right hand and it has prevented him for doing his job. So we have decided to send Sarfraz, not as a replacement but as a back-up to Akmal."

Sarfraz is highly-regarded in domestic circles. He was captain of the Under-19 team that won the World Cup in Sri Lanka last year and in his debut first-class season for Karachi, impressed behind and in front of the stumps. This season he has progressed: he performed admirably in the two four-day matches for Pakistan A against Australia A in September.

Having joined Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) this season, he has put together a good start to the domestic season, with 15 victims in three matches and a couple of fifties for added measure.

"We've had our eye on Sarfraz for a while now. He is a promising young wicketkeeper, he can also bat a bit and is doing well this season,"

said the official.

"This is a good opportunity for him."

PCB officials discuss budget

KARACHI: Top Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials met in Lahore on Thursday to discuss the Board’s budget for the next fiscal year. The meeting was attended by PCB chairman, chief operating officer and the Board’s directors.The PCB is planning to make substantial allocations for upgrading the infra-structure and lifting the standard of cricket in the country. Pakistan are to host a few important international tournaments in the future including the 2011 World Cup which would jointly be staged by Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Next year, Pakistan will host the Champions Trophy.