Najam Sethi To Replace Zaka Ashraf as PCB Chief: Reports

Vishal Mehra

image-llnbzepxNajam Sethi [X.com]

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The never-ending saga surrounding the head of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continues with former two-time chairman Najam Sethi speculated to return soon. As per emerging reports, Sethi will replace current PCB president Zaka Ashraf, who took over charge just two months ago, and has been in the firing line ever since.

Sethi's return is evident after Pakistan's Election Commission asked all political appointees by the Shehbaz Sharif-led government to be removed, with the country heading into general elections. 

Ashraf joined as the PCB chief for the second time on August 9 and has been busy with several issues pertaining to World Cup 2023, Asia Cup 2023, and players' central contracts. 

As reported by Cricbuzz, the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) has notified the PM's Principal Secretary about the same. The head honcho of the PCB has always been a political appointment, with the Prime Minister being the patron-in-chief of cricket's governing body.


Here's what EC said

“In pursuance of para(g) of the notification ibid: ‘To ensure immediate termination of services of all heads of institutions headed appointed on political basis and to send all such cases to the commission for approval of termination or otherwise."

Over the past six years, PCB has had as many as four chiefs - Ehsan Mani, Ramiz Raja, Sethi and Ashraf. Interestingly, Mani replaced Sethi in August 2018, and the latter came in for Raja in September 2021.