LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) through a circular resolution managed to get three points — including the one related to the delegation of powers — approved by the Board of Governors, which could not be discussed during the last BoG meeting held in controversial circumstances at Quetta.

According to a PCB press release issued late on Wednesday, the most important approval was given to the delegation of powers and functions, according to which PCB chairman Ehsan Mani and newly-appointed managing director Wasim Khan have now become the most powerful officials in the cricket board.

Interestingly, as a BoG member Mani also voted in favour of the delegation of powers, which makes himself a powerful person in the Board. According to the PCB, out of nine currently available BoG members, six including the chairman voted in favour of the resolution.

They are Asad Ali Khan, retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain, Kabir Ahmed Khan, Ayaz Butt, Shahrez Abdullah Khan and Mani. The BoG comprises 10 members. However, the seat vacated by Habib Bank Limited is yet to be filled. And remaining one of them is a representative from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), which did not respond as yet to the circular resolution.

Two other points which got approval include acceptance of the audited accounts for the financial year 2017-18. The approval paves the way for the PCB to receive its share of income from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

A new point concerning an amendment in the existing policy of investment was also approved.

Besides the delegation of power, another crucial subject, which was to be discussed in the April 17 Quetta meeting was related to new domestic cricket structure, under which departmental cricket is to be abolished while first-class cricket is to be given provincial format instead of the present set-up based on regions. However, this point has been excluded from the circular resolution because most probably BoG members still have reservations over it.

It may be mentioned here that though five of the BoG members were not ready to approve the proposal of delegation of powers and the new domestic structure in the Quetta meeting, gradually the number of opposing members was reduced to two. Among these five were Nouman Butt (Sialkot Region), Kabir Khan (Fata), Shahrez Abdullah Khan (Lahore Region), Shah Dost (Quetta Region) and Ayaz Butt (KRL).

As the PCB de-notified two of them — Nouman and Dost — for different charges, the remaining three have reconciled with the PCB.

A press release issued by the PCB on the Wednesday meeting said: “The Board of Governors, the supreme body of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), today, through a majority, approved the following through circular resolution:

“Audited accounts for the 2017-18 financial year; Delegation of powers and functions; Amendments to investment policy.

“As per Article 10(7) of the PCB Constitution, Mr Mohammad Numan Butt cannot attend any meeting of the Board of Governors or any committee during the pendency of proceedings before the adjudicator. Mr Shah Dost has been de-notified as a BoG member after an independent adjudicator set aside District Cricket Association, Turbat, and Regional Cricket Association, Quetta, elections while ordering fresh elections.

“The voting members of the BoG stands reduced due to the above reasons. SSGC representative has thus far not responded to the circular resolution,” the press release concluded.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2019