The Pakistan government has recently named Zaka Ashraf, the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). This announcement comes following the departure of Najam Sethi, and Ashraf was widely regarded as the front-runner for the position.
On Thursday, July 6, his appointment was officially confirmed, signaling his return to the helm of the PCB. Ashraf will lead a new ten-member management committee overseeing the board’s operations for four months. Following the conclusion of the ODI World Cup, a fresh committee is expected to be formed.
However, the election of Ashraf as chairman had to be postponed due to complaints filed by former committee members in various courts across the country. Although the election is indefinitely delayed, this setback will not hinder Ashraf’s return to the PCB.
In light of the postponement, the PCB replaced former election commissioner Ahmed Shehzad Farooq Rana with Mahmood Iqbal Khakwani, an advocate in the Supreme Court. According to reports from India Today, a hearing for the ongoing case is scheduled for July 17.
The current PCB Board of Governors comprises four regional representatives, four service representatives, and two members nominated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The prime minister’s appointments to the board typically lead Pakistan Cricket for a three-year term. As a result, it is anticipated that Ashraf will continue beyond the initial four-month period, pending a more concrete solution after the election process.
The newly established ten-member committee will determine Pakistan’s stance on participating in the upcoming ODI World Cup. Initially, the PCB stated that the team would not travel to India for the tournament.
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However, they softened their stance and clarified that they would not play the India versus Pakistan game at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The cricket board will confirm their final decision in August or September. Security concerns have been cited as a primary consideration for the reluctance to play in India, and a team from Pakistan is yet to conduct an inspection visit.
With a new management committee in place and pending the resolution of election-related matters, Ashraf is expected to lead the board beyond the initial four-month period. The committee’s decisions, including Pakistan’s participation in the ODI World Cup, will be confirmed in the coming months, considering security considerations and other factors.
