Entire PCB selection committee resigns

Islamabad, Mar 20 (UNI) Accepting moral responsibility for Pakistan's humiliating exit from the World Cup, the entire selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has resigned today.

''We accept responsibility of Pakistani cricket team's poor performance in the World Cup,'' Chief Selector and former test cricketer Wasim Bari told Pakistan's private chanell Aaj TV.

He said the team put up a poor show and ''we have, therefore, decided to resign,'' adding that resignations have already been sent to the Board.

Bari's announcement comes on the backdrop of media reports that PCB chief Dr Naseem Ashraf has also stepped down and sent his resignation to President Pervez Musharraf, who is also the board's Patron-in-Chief.

''I am not aware of the circumstances, which forced Dr Ashraf to resign,'' Bari said when asked if he knew the reasons behind the PCB chief's resignation.

Dr Ashraf's reported resignation came two days after the dejected national coach Bob Woolmer died in Jamaica following the team's shock defeat to minnows Ireland last Saturday.

''Dr Ashar tendered his resignation to President Pervez Musharraf on Monday evening,'' Dawn newspaper reported.

Dr Ashraf, who was appointed PCB chief in place of Shehriyar M Khan last September, was in the interior of southern Sindh province when he faxed the resignation to the presidency.

However, officials in the presidency were tight lipped about the resignation.

Critics say that PCB chief's personal friendship with President Musharraf helped him clinch the post. He was often criticised for interfering in jurisdiction of the coach and the selection committee.

UNI