Pakistan Mourns the Loss of Ijaz Butt, a Strong Administrator

Pakistan cricket lost one of its most powerful administrators, Ijaz Butt, who passed away in Lahore at the age of 85 due to health issues.

Ijaz Butt played eight Tests for Pakistan and held various important administrative positions. He served on the 1987 Reliance World Cup organizing committee, had a four-year tenure as secretary of the Pakistan Cricket Board in the 80s, managed the senior team, and finally became the PCB chairman from 2008 to 2011.

Butt was known for his boldness and stubbornness, often doing things on his own terms. He even turned down a request from the then President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, showing his fearless attitude.

His tenure as PCB chairman was marked by controversies, including the banning of senior players like Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, and Kamran Akmal. The fallout with these players led to infighting and tensions in the team.

Under his leadership, Pakistan won the 2009 T20 World Cup in England and reached the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals in South Africa. However, his handling of the militant attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009 resulted in Pakistan losing its hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup and foreign teams refusing to tour the country due to security concerns.

Butt was also involved in a controversy with England players, accusing them of being linked to bookies. His statements caused a major row between Pakistan and England.

Despite criticism and disagreements, Butt remained resolute and never sought to please the public. He withdrew some of his statements after facing criticism, including being called a "buffoon" by the then ICC CEO Malcolm Speed.