Tug of war for Pakistan Cricket Board's chief post gains impetus

The race for the designation of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief has started to heat up, as both Najam Sethi and Zaka Ashraf have the respective backing of the ministers. The current chair of PCB’s interim management committee, Najam Sethi, has called upon Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his support. On the other hand, Zaka Ashraf is in contact with Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Ehsan-ur-Rehman Mazari.

It is also worth noting that Ashraf has the full support of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), whereas Sethi’s loyalty lies with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Furthermore, both parties have been attempting to make great strides in getting their respective candidates approved by the PCB’s patron-in-chief, the Prime Minister of the country. As has been the case in recent years, the Prime Minister’s nominee has won the elections.

Sethi was named the head of the interim committee in December 2022, with the plan for the elections to be held in the forthcoming months. The same plan is yet to be executed as elections are yet to be held in several regions, which has caused Sethi’s tenure to be extended until June 20.

However, with the race for the PCB chief heating up, several reports by The Dawn state that the PPP would like its representative to be elected as the PCB chief as they believe it is their right due to the Ministry for Inter-Provincial Coordination being given to the party as well.

"It is strange that the interim committee, which was mandated to hold free and fair elections, is yet to do so and now Sethi wants to become the new chairman, we will be resisting that move as Zaka is our candidate," a PPP representative was quoted as saying by The Dawn. 

However, those supporting Sethi’s cause have come forward with strong points regarding his re-election. The PML-N representatives reportedly put forth the point that in his short tenure as the PCB chief, Sethi has brought international cricket back to Pakistan and has been vigilant in the Asia Cup hosting row as well.