New PCB cheif's record more than a bit shady.

The structure of the Pakistani cricket established is in utter chaos.After losing regular captain Inzamam-ul-Haq to a four match ban and stand in captain Younis Khan to a self inflicted demotion,a resignation by Shaharyar Khan the PCB chief has left on lookers shocked.

It is alleged that the patron of the PCB, Gen. Musharraf, was not happy with the crisis handling skills of Shaharyar Khan. Gen. Musharraf may have been upset about the handling of the Oval incident by Shaharyar Khan. The PCB chief was present at the Oval during the crisis and reportedly did little to broker an agreement between the Pakistani team and ICC officials.

On the other hand, Khan's successor, Dr. Nasim Ashraf was also present at the Oval during the incident is reported to have tried to convince the players to take the field.

Dr. Nasim Ashraf is a special advisor to Gen. Musharraf and holds the title of state minister. He is also the Chairman National Commission for Human Development and recently been decorated with the Sitara-e-Imtaiz. Dr.Ashraf is credited with designing and implementing a highly successful model of primary health care. It is claimed that his model has led to a reduction in disease and lowered death rates in developing countries. He holds membership in Amnesty International, The World Wildlife fund and the End Hunger Campaign, in addition to chairing various for Muslim organization in the west.

Not all is rosy when it comes to Dr. Ashraf however. The wife Dr. Akbar Ahmed, the former Pakistani ambassador to the UK, has written a letter accusing Dr.Ashraf of hijacking a joint project.

Dr. Ashraf, Dr. Akbar and the latters family had been working a film based on the life of Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Mrs. Ahmed has accused Dr. Ashraf of trying to sell the film to an Indian accountant Mr. Singla and selling illegal DVD copies. She further alleges that Dr. Ashraf was using the project as a political platform, since he has added praises of Gen. Musharraf in the film. The plot seems to have been sucessful since Dr. Ashraf has joined the legions of Mushraff's blue eyed boys.

Dr. Ashraf also has a history of confrontation with the National Assembly. When Dr. Ashraf was appointed the head of National Commission for Human Development he had promised to raise US$4 billion from donors if the government provided US$2 billion.

Despite a unanimous vote by the NA to have the books of the NCHD audited by the Auditor General of Pakistan, only foreign firms of "international repute" have been allowed to conduct audits. This action is in breach of Pakistani law, which requires government commisions to be auided by the AGP. It is alleged that Gen. Musharraf personally pulled strings to make sure the audits don’t take place by issuing orders to the junior Finance Minister, Omer Ayub Khan.

Critics point out that the NCHD is duplicating the work of Education and Health Ministries, but without any government oversight of its funds. NCHD’s website claims a total expenditure of Rs.757.3 million, of which Rs.127.6 million went to Staff Cost. Due to the lack of government audit, it is not public knowledge how much staff the NCHD employees.

Cricket is big business in Pakistan with lucrative corporate sponsorships often landing in the hands of the PCB. Dr. Ashraf’s appointment as PCB chief is likely to raise controversy as facts regarding his finincial management of NCHD surface.