PCB Chief Does a U-Turn, Allows Players' Families to Stay

In another U-turn, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has granted permission to the members of the national team in England to have their families stay with them until the conclusion of the third Test.

Just one day after a board official had confirmed that Khan had turned down a request from some players to have their families with them till the end of the third Test, sources said the decision has now been changed.

"The PCB Chairman has now granted permission to the players that their wives and children can stay with them on the tour till third Test although the initial agreement was that the families would leave the team hotel after the second Test," one source told PTI.

The players, led by captain Misbah-ul-Haq, came up with the new demand after Pakistan had won the first Test at Lord's.

"Khan basically changed his decision as he didn't want to upset the players before the third Test which could have a bearing on the team performances," the source said.

The board had made it clear before the tour that the players could only have their wives and children stay with them for two Tests in England as the PCB wanted them to focus on the cricket.

The players had also demanded that the board pay for the travelling and boarding-lodging of their families but the source said the PCB chief had assured them the board would pay them 50 percent of their expenses.

The source said the wives and children will move out of the team hotel after the third Test but can remain in England at their own personal expense.