LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided in principle to file an intra-court appeal against the judgement of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) given in the case of controversial election of former PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf.

As a result of the IHC judgement, Zaka was sacked as PCB chairman while interim chairman Najam Sethi’s status has been made as caretaker chairman, curtailing his functional powers.

“The PCB has decided in principle to file an intra-court appeal against the judgement the IHC passed in the writ petition No.2242/2013 titled retired Maj. Ahmed Nadeem Sadal v Federation of Pakistan Etc. as perusal of the detailed judgement received by the PCB on July 22, 2013 reflects finding on such points of law and facts and administration which were neither part of the pleading, nor were argued by any party before the court, and may potentially bring to standstill the day-to-day functioning of the PCB,” a press release issued by the PCB stated.

“Today, the Ministry of Inter-provincial Coordination (IPC), government of Pakistan has also filed an appeal against the said judgement of the IHC.

“The judgement of the learned single judge may result in gridlock for the PCB in matters such as electoral college and criteria for selection committees, specifically team selection for the tours of Zimbabwe, Singapore and South Africa (home series), all of which are before end of October,” the PCB media release added.

“Furthermore, the PCB needs to conclude arrangements for media broadcasting agreements related to the cricketing itinerary of the PCB which has expired and for which tenders are required to be floated on urgent basis, failing which the PCB will suffer colossal monetary losses.

“The judgement also raises concerns with regard to the International Cricket council (ICC) guidelines on non-intervention of government in the administrative affairs of the PCB in so far it directs the federal government to appoint a DMG officer as secretary of the PCB and the same may be argued against directing the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold the elections in the PCB,” the media release further said.

“Also, the acting chairman appointed by the prime minister needs to effectively manage the affairs of the PCB as noted above until election of a permanent chairman, for which no clear direction has been given in the judgement,” the PCB pointed out.

“Therefore the PCB is left with no other option but to appeal against the said judgement,” the Board’s media release concluded.

It may be noteworthy that though the IHC judgement has prevented the entry of any non-technocrat as PCB chairman in future by ordering that presidents of all the regions and district cricket associations, and departments, playing first-class cricket are the voters and they shall be eligible to contest the election of the chairman, currently ad hoc and interim set-up is working in many districts and regions, that may create problems in completing the electoral college.