LAHORE, March 17: Shafqat Hussain Naghami has been appointed the Chief Operating Officer, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) though Saleem Altaf is also working as COO currently Director Cricket Operations.

When contacted by Dawn, Shafqat confirmed that a notification had been issued about his appointment but he was not in a position to confirm when he would join the board.

"I am leaving for Singapore on Sunday on a three-day visit and after coming back I will be in a position to join the PCB whenever the chairman advises me," he said.

Shafqat, who also served as deputy commissioner Sheikhupura in the 1990s, was instrumental in building the Sheikhupura Stadium around the same time. Surprisingly, the PCB chairman has made the appointment according to the new constitution which is yet to be approved by the President of Pakistan, Gen. Pervez Musharraf who is the patron of the board.

The chairman has already appointed Sohail Mansoor as media director, who is likely to join the board from April 1.