Flamboyant businessman Zaka Ashraf is set to return as the new Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman. Ashraf emerged as the top contender for the top post following a change in the coalition of the ruling government. Ashraf previously headed the apex cricketing body from 2011 to 2013.
Interim PCB Chairman Najam Sethi stepped down from the position earlier today. Sethi stated that he did not want to become a bone of contention between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Najam Sethi Stepped Down from PCB Chairman Post
“Salaam everyone! I don’t want to be a bone of contention between Asif Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif. Such instability and uncertainty is not good for PCB. Under the circumstances, I am not a candidate for the Chairmanship of PCB. Good luck to all stakeholders,” Najam Sethi said in a social media post on Monday on Twitter.
The Prime Minister officially appointed Zaka Ashraf to the PCB Board today. The official statement released by the government stated, “The Prime Minister, in his capacity as Patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board and in accordance with Article 10 (1) (d) of the PCBs constitution 2014, is pleased to nominate the following individuals for appointment as Members of the Board of Governors of PCB.” Along with Ashraf, Mustafa Ramday has also been appointed to the PCB.
The change in PCB’s leadership was officiated by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) who demanded the Chairman post since they held the sports ministry in the ruling coalition. Outgoing Chairman Najam Sethi had the support of the PM’s PML (N) party but they decided not to invoke further tensions and controversies.
The elections for the PCB Chairman position will soon take place. Zaka Ashraf will likely be appointed unopposed. Ashraf will directly be involved in key critical decision makings ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup 2023 and the World Cup in India.
Notably, Najam Sethi had an interesting tenure as the Chairman where he boldly portrayed PCB’s stance to ICC and BCCI. Sethi was appointed in an interim capacity in December 2022 and his tenure lasted for 6 months. His services will be highly missed by the surging cricket board.
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