Former International Cricket Council (ICC) president Ehsan Mani — who has been nominated for the position of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief by the prime minister — on Tuesday lauded the services of outgoing PCB chief Najam Sethi for his efforts to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.
Sethi, whose differences with Prime Minister Imran Khan are not secret, had announced his resignation as PCB chief on Monday, saying that he "was waiting for the new Prime Minister to take the oath" before turning it in.
An hour after Sethi's announcement, the prime minister tweeted that he had nominated Mani for the PCB chief's post.
In an interview with DawnNews TV, Mani said if he is elected as PCB chief by the body's board of governors he will work on improving domestic cricket for which he has "short and long-term strategies".
He also vowed to "wipe out" nepotism from the cricket body, a promise in line with the new government's agenda.
"We will dig out the best talent in youngsters and will give them a chance to prove themselves at the international level," he told DawnNews TV.
In order to "bring Pakistani cricket on the right path," Mani said he will "take suggestions from [the country's] cricket legends".
Previously, Mani served on the Board of Governors of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust Hospital — a charity project of the prime minister — but on an honorary basis without withdrawing any salary.
The former ICC president also pointed out that even though he had spent "55 years of [his] life abroad", he only has "one passport and that is a green one".
