KARACHI, May 25: Arif Ali Khan Abbasi, former chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), believes that without taking all regional and district associations of the country into confidence, current chairman Zaka Ashraf’s election holds no validity.

“Without the support of regional, district and other stakeholders of the PCB the chairman’s election holds no validity,” Abbasi said on Saturday.

Zaka was elected as the PCB chairman in Islamabad, just before the general elections, during which none of the country’s major regional associations were invited to take part in the election.

Two former PCB chairmen — Lt Gen (retired) Tauqir Zia and Khalid Mahmood — besides ex-Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif have already questioned the undemocratic election of the PCB chief and raised serious objections over the process of the election.

Rashid has already filed a petition against the new constitution and against the undemocratic election of Zaka in the Sindh High Court for which hearing will take place on May 29.

Abbasi hoped that this undemocratic step would be taken up in forthcoming general body meeting scheduled to be held here on May 29.

Abbasi, a seasoned sports administrator who remained president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and head of the Sindh Olympic Association, was of the view that without the general body and other stakeholders, elections cannot be democratic, fair and transparent.

“When Lahore, Sialkot and Faisalabad regional associations raised their voice against the undemocratic election, the PCB imposed ad hoc on these associations which was overturned by the Lahore High Court after hearing petitions by the regional bodies,” Abbasi pointed out.

He said there were 36 stakeholders in the PCB and without adopting a proper democratic procedure and appointment of election commission the election of Zaka for a four-year term held no validity.

The Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) and the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) have expressed their serious reservations over the undemocratic procedure adopted for the election of PCB chairman, and without submitting the copies of the new PCB constitution tothem and other associations.

Abbasi also questioned the induction of minor associations such as Dera Murad Jamali and Larkana Cricket Association and their members in the new PCB governing board.—APP