PCB should have acted on time: Qadir

Former Pakistan leg-spinner and chief selector Abdul Qadir said that non-participation in the third edition of the cash-rich IPL is a "big setback" for Pakistan cricketers and PCB should have acted on time to secure visas for the players. Qadir also urged the organisers of Indian Premier League to reconsider their decision and give the Pakistan Cricket Board one more chance, even if it requires imposing a penalty on the PCB, in the best interest of the players. "Our players have suffered a lot with the decision as one of their sources of earning income has been closed and that too at a time when international cricket has turned its back on the country citing volatile security situation," Qadir said. "As for the current situation and all the delay shown in securing visas, the PCB has to be blamed. Had the board acted on time, it would not have happened with the players. "But, still there is lot of time for the IPL and the organisers could impose penalty on the board in order to provide cricketers another chance," said Qadir, who has played 67 Tests and 104 One-day internationals for the country. The PCB had made it clear that it had done everything under its power to get the visas for its cricketers to play in the IPL next year but could not have influenced the Indian High Commission, the authority to decide on the matter. On its part, the Indian High Commission said in a statement that they were not aware of any deadline and the body was still processing the visas of the Pakistan players. Qadir also said that both the countries should refrain from mixing politics with cricket and the participation of Pakistan cricketers in the lucrative tournament would only help in bridging the divide between the nations. "The steep decline that both the countries have witnessed in their relationship due to terrorism has taken its toll on cricket which is not a healthy sign for the game. "I think with the participation of Pakistan players in the IPL, it would certainly help in bridging the tension between both the cricket-loving nation and one should not ignore this important fact," he said. Qadir, who played for country from 1977 to 1990, also criticized the PCB for taking decisions in haste. "PCB has always taken wrong decisions and all those were influenced by personal gains. They have always remained biased in their approach and personal interest played an important part in their decision-making. "Whether it's on the matter of IPL or selecting captain for the team, the PCB on every front has committed mistakes and it was the players who had to bear the brunt in the end," an annoyed Qadir said. Dubbing Twenty20 cricket as one of the best mediums for entertaining fans all over the world, Qadir said he doesn't feel it poses any threat to Test cricket. "I would have definitely played T20 cricket, had I been born in the present era. I don't think T20 is possessing any threat to Test cricket." Congratulating the Indian cricket team for attaining the top spot in the world Test rankings, Qadir said, "Not only India, but the whole Asian subcontinent is proud of them." "Pakistan won Twenty20 world cup this year and India also attained top position in the World Test rankings, these are proud moments for us," Qadir said.