ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has nominated former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf and Supreme Court advocate Mustafa Ramday for their appointment as members of the PCB Board of Governors (BoG).
This comes following the withdrawal of Najam Sethi, the PCB interim Management Committee chairman, from the race to become the board’s next chief.
The Prime Minister’s Office issued a notification on Tuesday, announcing the nominations of Muhammad Zaka Ashraf and Mustafa Ramday for the PCB’s Board of Governors. The nomination was made in accordance with Article 1011) (d) of the PCB’s Constitution 2014, with the Prime Minister acting as the patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Zaka Ashraf, a recognized figure in Pakistan’s cricket administration, served as the PCB chairman in the past, bringing valuable experience to the board. Mustafa Ramday, an advocate of the Supreme Court, brings legal expertise to the board’s membership. The government’s notification acknowledged their respective backgrounds.
According to sources cited in a Dawn report, the inclusion of Zaka Ashraf and Mustafa Ramday will complete the 10-member Board of Governors, with the remaining eight members almost finalized—four representatives each from regions and departments.
Election for PCB Chairman
The Board of Governors will convene to vote for the election of the PCB’s new chairman, thereby concluding the tenure of the board’s interim Management Committee. The interim committee assumed charge in December last year after the removal of former chief Ramiz Raja. Their primary objective was to revoke the 2019 constitution of the board and replace it with the 2014 charter.
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 Chairmanship of PCB. Good luck to all stakeholders.
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) June 19, 2023
Najam Sethi, who was initially expected to be the Prime Minister’s choice for the PCB chairmanship, surprised many by announcing his withdrawal. Taking to Twitter, Sethi stated, “Salaam, everyone! I don’t want to be a bone of contention between Asif Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif. Such instability and uncertainty are not good for PCB. Under the circumstances, I am not a candidate for the Chairmanship of PCB. Good luck to all stakeholders.”
