BoG authorises Shaharyar to decide on dual, multiple jobs

Published October 24, 2014
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan. — File photo/AFP
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan. — File photo/AFP

LAHORE: Speculations suggesting Najam Sethi still rules the roost in Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) affairs died down on Thursday as the Board of Governors explicitly authorised incumbent Board chairman Shaharyar M. Khan to decide on dual and multiple jobs issue as well as to pick the country’s nominee for the post of ICC president.

“On the status of some officials holding dual positions, PCB chairman was authorised by the BoG to take decisions on case-to-case basis depending on whether or not there was a conflict of interest in the two positions,” a press release issued by the PCB stated after the BoG meeting held here on Thursday.

Several coaches and national selectors in the present set-up including chief selector Moin Khan, his committee members Mohammad Akram, Ijaz Ahmed, Shoaib Mohammad, Saleem Yousuf and Wajahatullah Wasti are all doing dual or, in some cases, even triple jobs. Junior chief selector Basit Ali and almost all members of the national junior selection committee have the similar case.


PCB chief-led body to pick nominee for ICC presidentship


Interestingly, there are chances that Moin may lose both his posts -- chief selector and national team manager. Though as chief selector he has made several controversial decisions, it is believed that dropping veteran batsman Younis Khan from the ODI squad for the recently held series against Australia in the UAE was the most glaring. Pakistan suffering 0-3 whitewash in the said series further highlighted the stunning and anomalous axing of the seasoned batsman.

Younis on his part sent a strong message to the selectors by hitting a superb century under testing circumstances against Australia in the ongoing Dubai Test, thus proving he remains a considerable force on the field.

Earlier, Moin also made the headlines when Younis was denied category ‘A’ central contract, for which then PCB chairman Najam Sethi had to take a U-turn.

Meanwhile, on the subject of nomination for ICC presidentship, the PCB press release stated: “The issue of nomination for the ICC president for the 2015-16 term was referred to a committee, which would evaluate and recommend the candidate most suited for the position to PCB chairman, for communication to the ICC.

“The committee is headed by PCB chairman with IPC secretary Mohammad Ijaz Chaudhry, Iqbal Qasim, Shakil Sheikh and Mansoor Masood Khan as its members,” the press release added.

Shaharyar will not only be part of the recommendatory committee but will also take a final decision on it.

However, cricket circles believe Sethi has already been selected as the nominee from Pakistan for the post of ICC president.

According to these circles, the PCB may find no solid reason, which will support Sethi as a deserving candidate for the said post because the same BoG decided in Thursday’s meeting that his (Sethi’s) policy of awarding dual jobs to several coaches and selectors is to be reviewed on case-to-case basis.

The Pakistan team also failed to made any significant achievement during his one-year tenure. Furthermore, Shaharyar has differed with Sethi’s policy of constituting a six-member national selection committee, the largest ever in the country’s cricket history.

Shaharyar is not comfortable also with the five-year domestic structure Sethi approved during his last days as PCB chief.

Therefore, considering all this there is hardly anything going to Sethi’s credit which may build a case for him to represent the country at the ICC.

Here it may be mentioned that the ICC had already decided in 2012 that the next ICC president which is a ceremonial post, will be from Pakistan according to the world governing body’s rotation policy.

Meanwhile, the press release also said Bushra Aitzaz’s term as PCB Women’s Wing chairperson expires on Oct 31, 2014, adding there will be no more appointment on this post, because in the new PCB constitution the said post has been abolished.

The BoG at the meeting also approved the formation of a media rights committee for selling PCB’s home tour rights on long-term basis, and allocated a flexible budget for its functioning.

A PCB official said the head of the committee is Ehsan Mani, and it was formed by Sethi.

Besides PCB chairman, others who attended the BoG meeting included Najam Sethi, Shakil Sheikh (Islamabad), Gul Zada (Peshawar), Prof Ejaz Faruqi (Karachi), Iqbal Qasim (NBP), Mansoor Masood Khan (UBL), Yousuf Nasim Khokhar (Wapda) and Mohammad Ijaz Chaudhry (IPC federal secretary). PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed and chief financial officer Badar M. Khan also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2014

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