HYDERABAD: Rising from what appears to be a deep slumber after a year, the PCB has cancelled the election of Regional District Cricket Association Hyderabad president on the grounds that as per the rules candidates from one district were not eligible for the post of president after two consecutive terms of an official from the same district.

“Yes, I have been de-notified according to a [PCB] communication dated May 17,” said Mir Suleman Talpur, who was elected as RDCA president on May 16 last year.

He reckoned the reason behind the de-notification was somewhat technical.

“While I was a non-technical man but the point is that how did PCB election commissioner overlook this fact,” he wondered, adding that it was basically a fault of the PCB.

According to PCB website, “if elected the tenure of office-bearers shall be for two consecutive terms [three years each]. Thereafter, he shall be ineligible to hold any office [president, secretary]. After two consecutive terms the candidates will not be elected from the same district”.

Before Suleman, his family member Mir Haider Ali Talpur – who was member of PCB’s governing body – had served as Hyderabad RDCA president for two consecutive terms i.e. from 2007 to 2013.

It is learnt that Thatta district secretary had communicated to the PCB this anomaly when it was headed by Najam Sethi.

The RDCA remains incomplete even after one year. Other office-bearers – senior vice-president, vice-president and joint secretary -- of RDCA were to be elected by regional bodies themselves within 30 days of the RDCA elections.

Hyderabad region consists of Hyderabad, Thatta, Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Badin and Sanghar.

Election for the post of RDCA Hyderabad president would now be held afresh.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2014