Pakistan cricket finally gets a new constitution
As the Najam Sethi-Zaka Ashraf saga finally ends, Pakistan cricket is set to turn another corner in the right direction with the implementation of its new 'independently-drafted' constitution, a copy of which was made public on Tuesday.
With a new set of regulations, it would be hoped that the game would be prevented from any dictatorial involvement or adhocism.
Governments have come and gone, and with every change in the administration, a complete change in the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) management was seen. In a nutshell, it would be safer to say that politics had defined cricket until now.
The PCB as an independent body was a long awaited dream for followers of the game in Pakistan.
Salient features of the new PCB Constitution
The Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan shall be the Patron of the Board.
There shall be a Chairman of the Board elected by the Board of Governors in accordance with paragraph 7 for a period of three years. The Chairman shall be eligible for re-election for one further term of three years provided that the total tenure of an individual as Chairman shall in no case exceed a period of six years.
The Chairman shall be accountable to the Board of Governors. The Chairman shall cease to hold office if at a meeting of the Board of Governors not less than three fourth of the total voting members of the Board of Governors expresses no confidence in the Chairman.
The Chairman may, at any time, by writing under his hand, addressed to the Patron, resign his office.
A special meeting of the Board of Governors shall be convened to elect the Chairman from amongst the members of the Board of Governors, by a majority of the total voting membership of the Board of Governors.
The Election Commissioner shall hold and conduct the election and convene and preside over the special meeting of the Board of Governors to be held for the purpose of electing the Chairman.
With the enforcement of a democratic order in the ranks of the PCB, a bright future seems to lie ahead for cricket in Pakistan.