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Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board may soon undergo a slew of major changes following the national team's poor performance in the ongoing Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies, sources said on Sunday.
Ijaz Butt, present Chairman of the Board, has survived many critical periods during his 19-month tenure but some well-placed sources said this time the government will make some changes in the set-up.
Although the PCB is on paper an independent entity, not affiliated to any government institution, Pakistan President who is also the chief patron of the Board has the power to appoint the Chairman and approve appointments to the other key positions.
"This time the indications are that the Presidency is also now convinced it is time to make changes in the cricket set-up and bring in younger people. Noman Niaz, a doctor and cricket historian, who has worked in the Board before is likely to get a key position soon," a source said.
After Pakistan's disastrous tour of Australia earlier this year, there was great pressure on Butt to step down but using his political connections he survived.
Another source, however, said he had been told clearly that the President wanted results soon.
"That is why the Board took strong disciplinary action against seven leading players after the Australian tour. But now following another weak campaign in the T20 World Cup the pressure is back on Butt," the source said.
Former Test players and critics have constantly attacked Butt for his choice of people on key positions in the Board.
Butt's decision to appoint Waqar Younis as coach and Ijaz Ahmed as assistant coach and to bring back his old friend, the 73-year-old Yawar Saeed as manager came under intense criticism in the run-up to the World Cup.
"The fact that he also gave lucrative postings to Intikhab Alam and Aaqib Javed after the Australian tour after removing them as coach and assistant coach have also gone against him," the source said.
He said Niaz has been tipped to get a key position in the Board soon once he returns from abroad.
Butt has been in the West Indies since the start of the tournament -- another decision that is being criticised by the former players and the media as a wastage of money and interference into the team affairs.
"Only thing that can save Butt now is that Pakistan by some miracle reaches the semifinal and go onto win the final once again," the source said.
