About cricket, Asif knows he is a man of several, bewildering parts; he is genuine all-rounder if ever one existed. Just look at his amazing biodata:

A Hyderabad (India) Ranji player who went on to captain Pakistan
A medium-pacer who batted No 11 in Tests but later blossomed into a batsman who scored 10 Test hundreds
A Test player who became a hands-on cricket administrator, created the world's first neutral venue which now, has staged more one-dayers than any other venue
A one-day wizard who made running between the wicket a fine art

Asif is no ordinary ex-Test player dabbling in commentary, writing ghost columns, sitting in honorary capacity on various technical committees. He runstournaments, understands cricket and its economic nuances, the subtleties of sponsorship and the intricate business of TV network. Also, he is fully alert to the constantly evolving, though imperceptible, technical trends of modern day cricket and changing aspirations of current players.

Though happy at cricket's sturdy structure, its spreading popularity and growing capacity to attract fresh support, Asif thinks there is much to be done to move forward. He readily concedes cricket is a conservative sport, relatively impervious to change, whose laws have undergone only minor modifications over the years. This continuity, of retaining cricket's pure form, merits protection because tradition has enormous commercial value if marketed properly -- a formula perfected by Wimbledon.

Essentially, in Asif's opinion, cricket has to carefully package Tests and one-dayers as two separate, distinct products. Unchanging Test cricket is for the purist, the romantic follower; one-dayers for the more speeded-up, with itscrazed fans. These two dissimilar products should be carefully scheduled on tours, one must commence after the other is completed.Moreover, there is a need to balance cricket of each kind each nation is playing, and for a more equitable distribution of Tests. Why should Sri Lanka struggle to get a game in England?

It is time the ICC steps in to take control and releases the right amount of cricket in the market. Like all other things this boils down to basic economics -- control supply to maintain price because excess of anything (whether gold, real estate or Amitabh Bachchan) is bad.

If Asif was cricket boss, he'd promptly order all one-dayers to be played compulsorily under lights. This game is meant to be a spectacle, it is made for TV, he argues. That is why, we should go the full distance -- coloured gear, white balls, field restrictions, whatever. Asif, however, favours alterations in the one-day format, as the current laws are unfairly pro-batsman. The bowler has to be brought back into the game.The 15-overs restriction needs rethink, for very often the game is decided in the first hour itself. A more sensible thing would be to allow one to bowl more than 10.

Equally sound is Asif's plea to use more technology in cricket. The cameras must be consulted, if of help, in deciding appeals. The argument that it slows down the game is misplaced, he points out. Anyway, if a Test can be halted by sun rays disturbing the batsman (at Chennai, for full 15 minutes each day, almost as long as the tea break!) then a few minutes delay in one-dayers is pardonable. Wherever possible, playing time must be made up by switching on artificial lights. Asif foresees more cricket under lights in the future. His philosophy is simple and unambiguous: technology is useful, befriend it.

Though supporting innovation, and being receptive to new thought, Asif decisively frowns on cricket Sixes and Super 8s. That is tamasha, he sneers in utter disdain. Why bend the rules of the game and create something totallyartificial? It does not remain cricket any more.

For cricket to consolidate its position as a global sport, certain issues demand the urgent attention of the ICC. They must appoint two competent neutral umpires, standardise playing conditions (including type of balls to be used) and improve wicket preparation instead of leaving this crucial aspect to experienced but untrained maalis.

The appointment of professional event managers, with proven track records for co-ordinating various activities is inescapable.

The Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) in Sharjah has already woken up to this reality and they have picked their man with care -- who better than Asif Iqbal?