Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Cricket Committee Mohsin Hasan Khan has stressed on the need for sincerity when it comes to serving country’s cricket.

While speaking in an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Khan said that he decided to come on board with the PCB solely for the betterment of cricket in the country.

“We have big names, Wasim Akram, Misbahul Haq and Urooj Mumtaz, in our committee, whose only aim is to improve Pakistan cricket,” said Khan. “This country has given so much to us and now it is time that we should pay back. It is my humble request to all that we should play for Pakistan and not with Pakistan.”

Khan also denied any sort of rift with Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed and clarified that the statements which are circling around in media are more than a year old.

“I had given the statement regarding Sarfraz’s Test captaincy about a year and half ago.  At that time I had thought that he was young, passionate and energetic so he should only be leading Pakistan in limited-overs to avoid stress,” he said.

“However, now Sarfraz has seen many phases of life. He had suffered defeats in all three formats and now finally he is on a winning track.”

Giving his views about who should lead Pakistan in the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and Wales, he said that this is going to be the PCB chairman Ehsan Mani’s decision and the committee has nothing to do with it, except for giving suggestions.

“I have great respect for Sarfraz and he has the same for me. At the end it is Mani’s decision that who should lead Pakistan in the World Cup. I and my committee will just give suggestions which will be 100 per cent on merit,” said Khan.

He also praised Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is also the Patron-in-Chief of the PCB, for appointing Mani as chairman PCB.

“We should give credit to Imran Khan who has appointed such a great person in the shape of Mani as the chairman of PCB. Both of them talk about accountability,” he said. “Also, I accepted the post of cricket committee chairman because I have faith in Imran Khan and Mani’s vision.”

Commenting on closure of departmental cricket, Khan said that a lot of cricketers come from departments and committee will do proper homework before sharing their opinion on this issue.

“Departmental cricket has given us big stars in the past. They played a key role bringing Pakistan cricket where it stands right now. In our era, parents allowed their children to play departmental cricket so that they at least get a job,” he said. “We haven’t made any decision on department cricket yet. In our first meeting we had discussed some big issues and I can assure that whatever decision we will take, it won’t be without any homework and it will benefit cricket in Pakistan. This is not England or Australia where sponsors come without any institution so we have to find the best possible solution.”

When asked about his comment on calling head coach Mickey Arthur ‘donkey’, Khan clarified that at that time he hadn’t taken charge as cricket committee head and media should avoid digging up statements from the past.

“I hadn’t taken charge as the cricket committee head at that time. I don’t remember in which scenario I had given that comment and now it is in the past,” he said. “Some factons in the media cannot digest seeing Pakistan progress. Whenever something good happens, they find a way to spoil the moment.”