KARACHI, March 30 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has turned down the resignation of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman in the wake of the team's dismal World Cup performance.
PCB spokesman Aamir Bilal said on Friday that chairman Nasim Ashraf had been asked by the president to continue working to rebuild the national side.
"Ashraf has been boosted with the confidence shown in him by the president and will announce a short and long term rebuilding plan for Pakistan cricket on Saturday," Bilal said.
Ashraf submitted his resignation last week after Pakistan were eliminated from the World Cup following their shock loss to Ireland.
Pakistan cricket was plunged further into crisis when coach Bob Woolmer was found unconscious in his hotel room a day after the defeat and declared dead later in hospital. Jamaican authorities are treating his death as murder.
The PCB has been run on ad-hoc basis since 1999 with the president appointing the chairman in his capacity as chief patron of the board.
Ashraf replaced retired diplomat Shaharyar Khan last October.
He faced a crisis soon after taking charge when fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif tested positive for a banned steroid in drugs tests conducted by the board. They were banned but cleared on appeal.
The PCB is expected to announce a new captain and coach next week after taking stock of the World Cup performances.
Senior batsman, Inzamam-ul-Haq announced his retirement from one-day internationals and relinquished the captaincy after Pakistan lost to Ireland.
bdnews24.com/ac/1952 hrs
