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Miandad gets late call for Musharraf meeting

August 24, 2005 16:16 IST

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has another reason to be furious with the Pakistan Cricket Board, which he claimed did not properly communicate with him about attending a cricket meeting called by President Pervez Musharraf.

According to a report in Islamabad daily The News, Miandad said he was informed by a PCB functionary about the meeting only Tuesday morning, which was very short notice for him to attend it.

"I told the caller that first they should let me know who had instructed for my presence in the meeting. Was it the Presidency or the Board?" Miandad was quoted as saying by the paper.

"Secondly, this was no way to invite a former Test captain to such an important meeting at such short notice, and how was I required to make myself present at the Presidency on Wednesday in Islamabad," he said.

"The caller said the Board would get back to me with details and I am still waiting for that call," he added.

Miandad said the way the PCB went about the whole thing gave him the impression that it was not interested in having him present at the meeting.

"Normally in such cases even if the President wants someone to be present his staff informs the Board to make that person available. And if the Board was supposed to do this they have not conveyed anything properly or clearly to me. Which makes me feel that they are not interested in having me present in Islamabad," Miandad said.

Miandad also said he is concerned if the miscommunication did convey any wrong message to the Presidency.

"I have played six out of eight World Cups. I am always available to give my advice and suggestions for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. I have no problems if anyone wishes to utilise my cricket experience.

"But this is not the way it is done and I just hope the Presidency does not get the wrong message because I am always available for my country," he said.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, Director Board Operations Abbas Zaidi, captain Inzamam-ul Haq and coach Bob Woolmer are scheduled to call on the President to brief him about future plans and the preparations being made for the next World Cup in 2007, besides other cricket matters.

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