Dr Sohail Saleem, head of sports medicine of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has categorically said that he is not responsible for the postponement of the sixth edition Pakistan Super League (PSL). While talking exclusively with TheCorrespondent he said “I have neither taken the blame nor am I responsible.”
“I have worked with the PCB for 20 years and have served them to the best of my ability and gave everything. In these 20 years, many people came and went in the board. Now, I am feeling very light. I have played cricket with my son after so many years and I am meeting people in my family,” he further added.
Saleem says he is feeling very well after resignation, “My socialisation was zero before resigning as for the past one year I was not seeing any one. I am giving time to my clinic now and my patients who were angry with me are returning so overall I am feeling very well.”
While answering about the non-implementation of the COVID-19 protocols and the postponement of PSL 6, he clearly said, “No, I didn’t say anything about whether I was responsible for this or not. I thought it was the right time to leave.
“Currently, all the COVID-19 protocols that are in place were made by me. The protocols for the tour of England and New Zealand, Pakistan domestic cricket, women cricketer camps, U-19 camps, PSL 5 matches were all done successfully. I feel very proud in saying that we were able to have so much cricket in the last one year as compared to the rest of the world.”
Answering whether he has been made a scapegoat in this whole fiasco, he was of the view that, “I have neither taken the blame nor am I responsible. I have been requested to go in front of the investigation committee made by the PCB and I will fully cooperate with them and all the matters will be disclosed in front of them.”
Dr Sohail was clear that the name of the players whether foreign or national should not have been made public, ” I was not there when the name of the player was made public and honestly this should not have happened.
“This is an international practice that you can’t take the name of the players. Yes, you can tell the number of cases just like we did in New Zealand, but to the public, their name is a bit embarrassing. In the last year, many players tested positive but I never revealed any names.
While talking about if the PCB doesn’t accept the resignation isn’t accepted and PCB should give you an honourable exit he said, “This is a strange question for me to answer. Most probably I will not shy away from any fight. I have never run away from fights. Whenever bad times come I take it head-on. Regarding my exit, it is not my prerogative to decide.”
