ISLAMABAD, July 16: Shakil Shaikh, the new president of Islamabad Cricket Association (ICA) who was elected unopposed on Saturday announced that the era of victimisation of players was now history.

“For long the players in Islamabad have been victimised by officials because of petty politics but from now on the focus will only be on cricket,” he said soon after the success of his Rizvi Group.

Others who were also elected unopposed in elections held at the Diamond Cricket Ground were Irfan Manzur (secretary) and Raja Sakhi Muhammad (treasurer).

The elections were conducted by Javed Zaman, the head of Pakistan Cricket Board’s Election Commission and were also monitored by Saleem Altaf, Director Cricket Operations of the Board.

Presidents of 23 clubs out of 24 having right of vote turned up on the occasion and expressed the hope that the leadership will take Islamabad cricket to new heights.

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...