ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has officially nominated Najam Sethi as the candidate for the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), local media reported on Wednesday.
During a meeting between Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Najam Sethi, the Chairman of the PCB’s Management Committee, the Prime Minister expressed his complete confidence in Sethi’s abilities to lead the board.
According to local media reports, the Prime Minister is expected to receive two names from the PCB’s Board of Governors, with Najam Sethi being the preferred choice for the position of PCB Chairman. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed Sethi to expedite the process of conducting the elections for the PCB Chairman.
Najam Sethi provided a comprehensive briefing to Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on various cricket-related matters during the meeting. This included updates on the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, the revival of the PCB’s 2014 constitution, and the progress of preparations for the World Cup in India.
According to media reports, PM Shahbaz, who is also the patron-in-chief of the PCB, expressed satisfaction with the work of Chairman Najam Sethi and directed him to hold the PCB chairman’s elections as soon as possible. It is expected that Mustafa Ramday, an Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and a member of the Management Committee, will be the second nomination for the elite post.
The PCB’s Management Committee, chaired by Sethi and comprising 13 members, was appointed in December last year to enforce the 2014 constitution in the cricket board. Following the revocation of the 2014 constitution by the Imran Khan-led government, many cricketers and officials lost their jobs due to the closure of departments.
PCB Chairman’s Election Soon: Najam Sethi
In the meeting with PM Shahbaz, Sethi assured that the 2014 constitution is now functional, and the chairman’s election will be held soon. Sethi also briefed the patron on the ongoing Asia Cup deadlock and sought the government’s advice on the matter.
It is worth noting that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to send their team to Pakistan for the Asia Cup and prefers the event to be held at a neutral venue. However, the PCB is keen on hosting the event in Pakistan to support its efforts in bringing international cricket back to the country.
Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have also expressed concerns about the feasibility of holding the Asia Cup in two countries, considering logistical and financial factors.
