Zaka Ashraf took charge of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee on Thursday, following the sudden departure of Najam Sethi. The PCB officially announced Ashraf’s appointment as the committee’s chair, stating that all necessary procedures had been followed to formalize his nomination.
The Cabinet Division had authorized the 10-member committee through circulation on Wednesday, and Ashraf was warmly received by senior PCB officials upon his arrival at the organization’s headquarters in Lahore. He was scheduled to preside over a meeting as the new leader of the committee.
Ashraf’s appointment came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif yielded to pressure from the coalition partner, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), to select their own candidate as the PCB chief. Najam Sethi, who was seen as close to the Sharif family, had initially been given the responsibility of managing the PCB’s business and was expected to be named chairman. However, internal conflicts within the ruling coalition disrupted his plans, leading to his withdrawal and opening the way for Zaka Ashraf’s nomination.
The 10-member Management Committee comprises Zaka Ashraf (former PCB chairman), Kalim Ullah Khan, Ashfaq Akhtar, Muhammad Mussadiq Islam, Azmat Pervez, Zaheer Abbas, Khurram Karim Somroo, Khawaja Nadeem, Mustafa Ramday, and Zulfiqar Malik.
The Ministry of Inter-provincial Coordination (IPC) sent a summary to the Prime Minister’s office, proposing the constitution of a new Management Committee for a four-month period. The objective was to address the challenges arising from the current situation, prepare for upcoming international cricket events, and make significant decisions at the International Council of Cricket (ICC). The ministry also expressed concerns about the inefficiency of the current PCB election commissioner, which has resulted in multiple lawsuits and may impede the board’s operations and affect the nation’s reputation.
As a result, the ministry recommended the appointment of Mahmood Iqbal Khakwani, an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, in place of Ahmed Shehzad Farooq Rana as the election commissioner of the PCB. The federal government subsequently issued a notification to that effect.
The PCB Management Committee had been disbanded following the completion of its extended mandate, and control was handed over to the PCB Election Commissioner, as per the PCB Constitution from 2014. However, due to rushed and delayed decisions, elections could not be held, which was the primary responsibility of the PCB Election Commissioner. This has led to a complex situation and multiple legal battles in various courts.
The appointment of Zaka Ashraf as the head of the PCB Management Committee brings stability and leadership to the board during a critical period. The committee will play a vital role in addressing the challenges faced by the PCB and ensuring efficient operations for the betterment of Pakistan cricket.