Najam Sethi, the current Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has decided to step down from the race to become the next board chairman, causing speculation about the potential return of Zaka Ashraf, a former PCB chairman.
Sethi, who was also leading the interim management committee of the PCB, was expected to complete his tenure on June 21 but has chosen not to continue as the chairman.
In a tweet, Sethi expressed his reluctance to become a source of contention between two prominent political figures in Pakistan, Asif Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif. He stated, “I don’t want to be a bone of contention between Asif Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif. Such instability and uncertainty are not beneficial for the PCB. Therefore, I am not a candidate for the Chairmanship of PCB. Good luck to all stakeholders.”
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Traditionally, the chairman of the PCB has been appointed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who also serves as the PCB patron. The Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) party, led by Shehbaz Sharif, has historically had the authority to nominate the chairman.
However, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), led by Asif Ali Zardari, claimed the right to nominate a candidate this time, as they oversee Pakistan sports through the Ministry for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC).
Zaka Ashraf, believed to be Zardari’s preferred candidate, is likely to be nominated alongside Mustafa Ramday, a renowned Supreme Court lawyer, for the PCB’s board of governors.
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During his interim tenure, Sethi’s committee focused on restoring the 2014 constitution and reintroducing the regional and department structure in domestic cricket.
They also appointed mostly overseas coaching staff for Pakistan, including former head coach Mickey Arthur as part-time director of cricket. Additionally, Sethi addressed important matters such as Pakistan’s hosting of the Asia Cup and its impact on their potential participation in the upcoming World Cup in India.
The successor to Sethi will face the crucial task of resolving these issues and overseeing the PCB’s operations, including the development of domestic cricket and the national team’s international participation.
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