A resolution to shift the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) headquarters from Lahore to Islamabad was recently moved in the upper house of parliament. Contending that PCB is a `symbol of state`, Sardar Azam Khan Musakhel argued this would remove a `sense of deprivation from smaller provinces`.Although the resolution is still pending before a house committee, Dawn spoke to noted sports journalist and writer Osman Samiuddin and asked him what impact, if any, would a change in PCB HQ`s location have on the game of cricket in Pakistan.Q: Do you think that if PCB HQ was to be moved to a neutral location, that would have any impact on the way the sport is governed across the rest of the country? A: It would have an impact but I`m not sure whether it would be for the better in any way. Moving it to Islamabad primarily seems a suggestion designed to bring greater state oversight to its running and the last thing the PCB needs is more state control or government interference. As it is, the global movement in cricket is to move away from state control.

I don`t see how it will remove the `sense of deprivation` from smaller provinces. Are we going to remove that deprivation by having quota representation in the board? Or on the various Pakistan teams? As a rule, Senate discussions about cricket tend to be some of the most ill-informed in the country.

Q: What is the core issue behind this `sense of deprivation` that Senator Musakhel referred to in the Senate and how can it be fixed? A: In 1999, when Gen Tauqir Zia took over, he centralised all authority and power into PCB HQ in Lahore.

Regional associations suddenly had no power, to the extent that they could not select their own teams ororganise international matches held in their cities. It is this emasculation the PCB needs to correct foremost.

The only thing to do really is to give regional associations across the country autonomy. The ultimate aim should be to devolve the PCB and let HQ just become a facilitator of cricket with the regional associations actually running it at every level.

Q: In purely political terms, do you think anything would change in the PCB`s power dynamic if PCB is moved out of Lahore? A: Especially by moving to Islamabad, I can see the PCB becoming more and more like an overly-stuffed bureaucratic behemoth. Imagine the number of appointments ministers might be able to dole out within the board itself if it is based in Islamabad. We complain about the PCB being overstaffed as it is, but this would take overstaffing to new levels.

And it`s not as if provinces have not felt that the centre has ignored or mistreated them through the existence of Pakistan. Essentially, by moving it from Lahore, you would be replacing that sense of rivalry with another one, one which is probably as deeply entrenched.

By Hassan Belal Zaidi