adminISLAMABAD. — After 66 years, 28 chairmen and a slew of controversies, Pakistan is still wrangling over how to run cricket in a country where millions follow it passionately.
Last week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif dismissed Zaka Ashraf as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), unseating him for the second time in a year.
In his place, Sharif appointed a committee headed by senior journalist Najam Sethi, who has been asked to devise a constitution which would give the country its first truly-elected cricket board chairman.
But critics fear a continuation of political meddling in an organisation which has long seen its chairman hand-picked by leaders who reward supporters with the prestigious job.
“It’s totally incorrect to appoint a political person,” said Sirajul Islam Bukhari, a former president of the Karachi cricket association, who says Pakistan has “failed to find a roadmap”.
In 1962, military ruler Ayub Khan started the trend whereby presidents would appoint the cricket chief, leading to a succession of military men, judges, businessmen, former players, diplomats and politicians in the top position.
Some of them had highly questionable credentials. A serving lieutenant general who was made PCB chief from 1984-88 once asked: “Why doesn’t the board give all players the man of the match award?”
Many former players and experts want the PCB to hold elections to choose the most qualified leader available without political interference.
Sethi has promised to do this, telling reporters after his nomination that he planned to “restore the prestige of Pakistan cricket” by forming the new constitution. But former Pakistan captain-turned-politician Imran Khan has derided his promotion, saying he was being rewarded for loyalty to Sharif.
“How can you have accountability of a man who is the president’s man? That’s why our board can never be run on professional lines,” he says.
In Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, cricket chiefs are also appointed by the ruling party, but major cricketing powers such as India, England and Australia have presidents elected by members of local associations. Former PCB chief executive Arif Abbasi fears Pakistan’s membership of the International Cricket Council could be under threat over “government interference”. — AFP.
Online Reporter