LAHORE: Pakistan has been elected on the newly formed all-powerful International Cricket Council (ICC) executive committee as fourth member after India, England and Australia.

According to a PCB press release, the West Indies has also been elected as fifth member of the said committee.

Both the countries were elected to the committee during the annual ICC conference in progress in Melbourne.

“The executive committee will have a number of committees reporting to it and will deal with important matters like constitution, anti-corruption, ethics, integrity, development and HR,” the PCB press release said.

“This will be the core committee of the ICC which will meet with as much frequency as required to assist and advise the ICC Board on operational, management and administrative activities of the game’s governing body.”

PCB chairman Najam Sethi will represent Pakistan at the meetings of the said committee.

The PCB on Friday also indicated that banned Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir may be seen in action soon at the domestic level, highlighting a special clause had been incorporated in the ICC anti-corruption code in this regard.

“Last year, on a request from Sethi and subsequent advice from a Queen’s Counsel in the UK sought by the PCB on Mohammad Amir’s ban, the ICC had agreed to form a committee to review its anti-corruption code as under the existing code there were no provisions for an early entry into cricket of a banned player,” the PCB said.

“The work on the drafting of the new ICC anti-corruption code has substantially progressed with a draft clause inserted into the code permitting a banned player to be involved in domestic matches prior to the end of his ban period. The anti-corruption code will now be placed before the Board for approval soon after which the PCB will be in a position to make an application for Mohammad Amir,” the press reelase further stated.

On these developments, PCB chairman Najam Sethi said: “Clearly these are some great news for the people of Pakistan. Our representation on the executive committee would ensure that Pakistan remains involved in the important decision-making concerning the game of cricket. It also reflects that Pakistan now holds an important and undisputed position within the top echelon of the cricketing fraternity.

“The progress on ICC amendments in its anti-corruption code is also very encouraging and is yet another step closer to the early entry of Mohammad Amir in cricket,” Sethi concluded.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2014