KARACHI: All rumours and reports taking round about Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan stepping down from his position in August after completing two years in office were quashed here on Saturday after it was learnt that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has given his nod to Shaharyar to continue working as PCB chief and complete his term.

“Shaharyar has now been told by the patron-in-chief of the PCB that he should continue working and not step down,” said sources close to prime minister in London where he is recuperating from a heart surgery in the UK.

“The scenario has changed and Shaharyar has now agreed to carry on working after a detailed discussion with the premier on cricket affairs,” the source said.

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

“Any issues between Shaharyar and his predecessor Sethi have now been sorted out and the latter has backed Shaharyar to continue working as chairman,” the sources said.

It may be mentioned here that the PCB had come under severe criticism from the critics as well as the fans after Pakistan had failed to put up a decent show in the Asia Cup T20 in Bangladesh and the World T20 in India earlier this year.

Subsequently, the PCB formulated a fact-finding committee to look into the team’s defeats and its recommendations led to the ouster of T20 captain Shahid Afridi, head coach Waqar Younis and chief selector Haroon Rasheed.

The new changes in the board structure have now seen young Sarfraz Ahmed taking over as the new T20 captain, former skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq taking over as chief selector alongwith a revamped selection committee, Mickey Arthur appointed as the new head coach and former Test player Mudassar Nazar inducted as director academies.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2016