KARACHI: There were speculations that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan may step down from his position in August after completing two years in office. But that was before he met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in London, who is also there for medical treatment.

Press Trust of India reported on Friday that PM Nawaz has given his nod to Shaharyar to continue working as PCB chief. “He has now been told by the patron-in-chief of the PCB that he should continue working and not step down,” PTI quoted a source as saying.

In an earlier interview with the Indian news agency, Shaharyar had hinted at stepping down as the board chairman in August. Shaharyar’s concerns were that unlike other cricketing nations, media and former players always turned on the board officials and demanded their sacking whenever the team underperformed.

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“But the scenario had changed and Shaharyar had agreed to carry on working after a detailed discussion with the premier on cricket affairs,” the source told PTI.

There were also reports of conflict between Shaharyar and the board’s chairman of executive committee Najam Sethi over cricketing affairs, which according to PTI has now been resolved.

“Any issues between Shaharyar and his predecessor Sethi have been sorted out and the latter had encouraged Shaharyar to continue working as chairman,” PTI quoted the source as saying. “Although the two heavyweights at times did not agree on some issues but were comfortable working together in the board.”

Pakistan failed to put up a decent show in Asia Cup T20 in Bangladesh and World T20 in India, making it difficult for head coach Waqar Younis and captain Shahid Afridi to retain their roles. The board came under fire by former players for poor selection and failing to enforce discipline within the team.

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Waqar resigned from the helm of the Pakistan team management following the team’s humiliating exit in group stages of the World T20, with Afridi following suit.

On its part, the PCB formulated a fact-finding committee to look into the team’s defeat. Acting on the committee’s recommendations, the board had released Haroon and other key members of the selection committee from employment.

The new changes in the board structure saw former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq returning to national colours as chief selector, Mickey Arthur as head coach and former Test player Mudassar Nazar as Director Academies.