In a significant development for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), seven government officials, including Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, have been appointed to key roles as part of outgoing Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s strategic decisions before the formal installment of an elected prime minister in March. Anwaar, functioning as the PCB patron-in-chief, has orchestrated a series of moves that reflect a restructuring of the cricket board’s leadership.
Initially, Anwaar nominated Mohsin Naqvi for the position of PCB chairman. At that time, Mohsin was concurrently serving as the caretaker chief minister of Punjab. Subsequently, Mohsin assumed the role of PCB chief just two days before the general elections in the country, marking a pivotal moment in the PCB’s leadership landscape.
Anwaar discreetly amended the PCB constitution, expanding the number of his nominees on the PCB Board of Governors from two to three. The initial nominees included Mohsin and Mustafa Ramday, the latter having been nominated by former Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif alongside Zaka Ashraf. The recent addition of Zahid Akhtar Zaman further increased the count of PM’s nominees.
Alongside these political appointments, the Establishment Division issued orders for government officials, including Sohail Ashraf, Zain Asim, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, Irtiza Komail, and Rafiullah, to join the PCB. Additionally, a police official named Usman is expected to become part of the PCB team.
While the specific roles of these officials within the PCB are yet to be clarified, the absence of the current PCB chairman, who is on leave with his family, has temporarily stalled decision-making on this front. It is anticipated that these government officials will occupy prominent positions within the PCB, potentially leading to organizational restructuring and the reshuffling of several directors’ roles.
Abdullah Khurram, slated to leave his post as deputy commissioner of Jhang, had previously served as the secretary of the now-defunct Punjab Cricket Association during Ehsan Mani’s tenure. The dynamic shifts in the PCB’s governance underscore the influence of political decisions on cricket administration, with potential repercussions on the board’s functioning and future strategies.
