28 Jan 2009

Cricket in as much mess as Pakistan, says Imran Khan

8:10 pm on 28 January 2009

The former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has urged President Asif Ali Zardari to reform the national game of cricket, which he says is in as much of a mess as the country.

Pakistan's cricketing woes saw Shoaib Malik replaced as captain by Younus Khan following the team's humiliating 234-run loss -- their worst one-day defeat -- handing visitors Sri Lanka a 2-1 series win last week.

The change was the third major reshuffle in as many months.

In October Zadari appointed Ijaz Butt chairman of the cricket board, following Nasim Ashraf's resignation.

Butt then sacked Australian coach Geoff Lawson for poor team performance.

Khan says Pakistan's cricket is as much in the mess as is the country.

Khan, who led Pakistan to their only World Cup triumph, in Australia in 1992, and is now in politics, says the president of the country should not appoint the cricket chief.