The two, Zaka Ashraf vs. Najam Sethi, had also engaged in a lengthy competition for the position of PCB chairman in 2013–2014.
Zaka Ashraf held a news conference in 2012
Political Influence and Cricket’s Future: Zaka Ashraf vs. Najam Sethi
As the Pakistan Cricket Board‘s management committee nears its term’s conclusion, rumours of a leadership transition have begun to circulate. With only two weeks left, the discussions concerning Najam Sethi’s replacement for the position of chairman of the management committee are progressing. Zaka Ashraf is one of the names at the top of the list of prospective successors. As a former PCB chairman, Ashraf knows how the board functions. He is also Sethi’s former opponent, which heightens the excitement. It will be fascinating to watch if Ashraf takes over. Will he stick with Sethi’s plan for PCB, or will he introduce his ideas? What the future holds for Pakistan cricket is still being determined.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Sethi met at his house in Islamabad on June 7 to discuss the PCB’s development during the previous five months. A few miles away, Ashraf met with Ehsan your Rehman Mazari, the federal minister in charge of inter-provincial cooperation (IPC), who liaises between the PCB and the government. Since the IPC is the ministry in Pakistan that oversees sports, Mazari said Zaka had been proposed as the candidate to lead the PCB.
Sethi and Ashraf have a history of competing for the PCB leadership; in 2013 and 2014, they engaged in a drawn-out court struggle for the role. That matter was resolved when Sethi replaced Ashraf after being removed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Sethi is supported by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), while Ashraf is backed by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Both parties are a part of the coalition establishing the country’s government.
“When this government was formed, it was decided that parties [in the alliance] who have respective ministries will have a say in naming the man for the respective job,” said Mazari on Wednesday. “Since IPC is associated with PPP, we will have a representative in the PCB. Additionally, Sethi’s candidature [for the entire term] creates a conflict of interest as the chairman of the management committee in charge of conducting the elections. Yet, they are becoming involved and influencing the outcome.
Since Ramiz Raja was fired as chairman and the PCB’s 2019 constitution was abandoned in December of last year, the management committee led by Sethi has been in charge of the board. The initial deadline for Sethi’s committee to reestablish the 2014 PCB constitution and the regional and services structure in domestic cricket was 120 days. A directive to establish a board of governors and choose a presiding officer was also issued to the committee.
Sethi has worked tirelessly and proactively over the past four months to reassemble the coaching staff of the Pakistan Cricket squad. He tried to acquire a coaching group primarily from outside the United States because he realized the party required a new viewpoint. Mickey Arthur joining Sethi’s team as the part-time director of cricket has been a brilliant move. South African-born Arthur, who once oversaw the Australian cricket team, has brought much expertise to the Pakistan cricket team structure.
Sethi’s committee’s mission completion period was extended by two months; this extension will expire on June 22. Its most considerable task was to hold elections in each of Pakistan’s provinces. It required the PCB to establish a board of governors with 10 members, including two members directly elected by the PCB patron, the prime minister, four of the 16 regional delegates, four representatives of service organizations, and four members. Each BoG member serves a three-year term equal to one chairman term.
The process was nearly complete when the committee encountered legal issues due to objections made by many local clubs regarding the fairness of the voting procedure. At the crux of the controversy are three members of the management committee who operate out of the PCB headquarters: Tanvir Ahmed, who was chosen president of the Larkana area; Gul Zada, from the Peshawar region; and Shakil Sheikh, who is running in Islamabad.
The prime minister’s selection of the PCB chairman once the board has been established will significantly impact the organization’s future. The chairman greatly impacts the team’s choice, the draughting process, and the overall strategy because of their extensive network and experience. Having a chairman who can educate the organization on new topics and guide it to greater heights is crucial.
To ensure that the PCB is managed by someone who can advance the organization, the prime minister’s judgement in presenting two choices for the position is crucial. The succeeding board election process must be smooth, open, and fair to ensure that the ideal candidate is chosen to head the PCB. Read more cricket news here at India Cricket Site, the best cricket information site in India.
