LAHORE: Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf has suggested the government to make another suitable nomination for ICC president’s post instead of former chairman Najam Sethi who he says is not capable of getting good results for Pakistan cricket at the international forum.

“The man for this important post in the ICC must have solid credentials as a cricketing personality of international repute like former Test captain Majid Khan or ex-chairmen Tauqir zia, Khalid Mahmood or Arif Ali Khan Abbasi,” Zaka said in a statement following the appointment of Sethi as the next ICC president for the term starting July 2015.

To a question Zaka said Sethi had failed to get any major benefit for Pakistan cricket while accepting the Big Three formula of the ICC under which India, Australia and England had become strong stakeholders.

“I as PCB chairman had opposed the Big Three formula because other countries including Pakistan were facing huge losses in revenues and we wanted to get maximum benefit for Pakistan cricket before accepting it,” he recalled.

“I wanted to sign an agreement with India for the revival of cricket ties on bilateral basis with a cover of the International Arbitration court to avoid any kind of losses to Pakistan,” said Zaka. “As India had often violated its commitments during the past, I wanted to ensure some guarantees from them.”

“To set the record straight, I want to say that it was during my tenure in 2012 it was decided that the next ICC president would be from Pakistan and that decision had no link whatsoever to the Big Three formula,” Zaka clarified.

He also hailed the decision of incumbent chairman Shaharyar Khan of not allowing anyone to hold double or triple jobs in the PCB as it was tantamount to conflict of interest. Zaka lauded the performance of middle-order batsman Younis Khan in the two Tests against Australia and said the seasoned player’s fabulous feats had done the country proud.

“It was not easy for Younis to stage a comeback, especially after he was unjustifiably sidelined by the selectors. But he has, indeed, shown his class with a gutsy show against the Aussies.”

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2014