By Omar Khalid
Karachi, Oct 20 (IANS) Jamshed Dasti, the parliamentary sports committee chief who ignited a storm by hurling match-fixing charges at the Pakistan cricket team earlier this month, says that he wants to ensure that cricket is run in a professional manner in the country.

Dasti told reporters here Tuesday that he believes that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is not functioning properly. He said the committee will try to bring administrative changes within the Board.

He claimed that the committee had complete support of President Asif Zardari, who is PCB’s chief patron.

Dasti came under fire last week after Pakistan captain Younis Khan resigned because of the allegation of match-fixing against his team during the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Dasti took a swipe at the PCB, saying that the senior Board officials were trying to avoid an audit which he believed should be carried out soon.

“During the stint of the previous PCB chairman, there were huge financial scams. This board is also trying to avoid having an audit of its funds which is why its officials are raising hue and cry over the function of the sports committee.”

Dasti said in a TV interview that he suspected Pakistan threw its matches against Australia and New Zealand and later summoned PCB chairman Ijaz Butt and Younis Khan for a meeting at the Parliament House in Islamabad.