PCB Chairman and COO at warpath

An apparent rift has crept up within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with the chairman Ejaz Butt dramatically sidelining COO Saleem Altaf from being involved in any important decision-making, including finalisation of international tours.

An apparent rift has crept up within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with the chairman Ejaz Butt dramatically sidelining chief operating officer Saleem Altaf from being involved in any important decision-making, including finalisation of international tours.

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Altaf was the only PCB official to return from Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and sources said he and Butt were now on the warpath against each other.

"Altaf is very upset at the way Butt has been treating him in recent times. On some occasions, Butt has even scolded and ticked off Altaf in front of other people," one source told PTI.

"Things have got so bad between Altaf and Butt that the latter is now not involving him in any important matter. Altaf had no role to play at all in the organisation of the one-day series against Australia in Dubai and Abu Dhabi," the source said.

He said so much so that Altaf had been told by Butt not to give any statements in the media on any issue, although just two months ago he was named as the official spokesman of the PCB.

"Things have got to such a situation that Altaf despite being COO is not even being asked to take part in the future tours planning. Butt has given total control to Zakir Khan, the director of international cricket operations and he is negotiating on behalf of PCB," the source said.