Zaka Ashraf back as PCB chairman for third time
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani cricket turmoil deepened Saturday after an Islamabad high court suspended a management committee appointed by the prime minister and reinstated Zaka Ashraf as chief of the cricket board.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had sacked Ashraf on February 10 this year and appointed a committee chaired by Najam Sethi to oversee cricketing matters.
Saturday's order meant all decisions taken by Sethi are now null and void -- including the appointments of head coach Waqar Younis and Zimbabwean batting coach Grant Flower.
It is the third time Ashraf has been reinstated since May last year.
Judge Noorul Haq Qureshi heard around 25 petitions from the employees of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) who were sacked by Sethi, and read out his decision in the court.
Ashraf's lawyer Karim Kundi said the court decided to revert to the situation of February 10.
“The notification of February 10 has been struck down as null and void as it was illegal, and as natural consequences Ashraf and other board staff who were superseded by the order are reinstated,” Kundi told AFP.
Ashraf hailed Saturday's decision.
“This is a win for Pakistan cricket,” Ashraf told Pakistani media.
“I will try to correct the
| wrong things in Pakistan cricket |
Sethi said he was waiting for the court's written orders.
“I am waiting for the court's orders and it will be up to the government to appeal where they want,” Sethi told a private TV channel.
“The instability in the PCB is not good for cricket.”
Also read: Sethi’s moves defy logic as vested interests prevail at PCB
Pakistan's Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination, which oversees sporting matters in the country, is likely to challenge the decision next week.
The same Islamabad court had suspended Ashraf in May last year, ruling his election “dubious”. Sethi was appointed PCB chairman in June.
Ashraf appealed against the decision and was reinstated on January 15 this year, before Sharif again sacked him a month later.
The frequent changes have made Pakistan the laughing stock of international cricket.
The Supreme Court earlier this year refrained from taking the case ahead, suggesting that the government has the authority to initiate changes within the PCB.
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On DawnNews
Comments (84) Closed
May 17, 2014 05:42pm
This game is only played in Pakistan - I am not talking about cricket - but game of sacking and re-instating. It is so demeaning and insulting to all the parties. Does court really think that Zaka will be able to play on the level field when the Premier doesn't want him in the office? There should be some sort of mediation in this matter rather than court putting the ruling out. Such a shame to the institutions of Pakistan - it shows to the outer community that we don't know what we are doing for the Country!
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May 17, 2014 05:47pm
and so continues the comedy of appointing/removing PCB chairmen
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May 17, 2014 05:47pm
Rollercoaster ride. Good bye NS you had your time.
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May 17, 2014 05:50pm
I urge pakistanis not to have high hopes from team in next yrs cwc... ):
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May 17, 2014 05:51pm
great decision by Court. Respect such decisions.
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May 17, 2014 05:52pm
Power struggle is on big time at PCB.IHC decision clearly indicates that the Prime Minister was wrong.
Why can't our politicians leave sports alone and worry about other matters.
Pakistan Cricket is already struggling at International level and We can't afford to have on and off changes.
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May 17, 2014 05:55pm
Yeh kya tamasha hai....
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May 17, 2014 05:55pm
Ping Pong betwen ashraf and sethi. Match tied at 2-2.
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May 17, 2014 05:57pm
With all this drama, even I am dreaming of being appointed as PCB Chief.
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May 17, 2014 06:03pm
Breaking news!!!!! Nawaz Sharif within few hours of court ruling to reinstate Mr. Zaka has sacked Mr. Zaka and appointed the more capable Najam as Cricket Board Chairman. Hehe
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May 17, 2014 06:04pm
Ridiculous! The way things are being handled in PCB, is it the end of cricket in Pakistan after hockey?
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May 17, 2014 06:09pm
Najam Sethi is a good journalist but has lost his respect by messing up PCB and acting like a dictator. I hope he learns his lesson. Our cricket is already a big mess and we do not need a pucture fixer to please someone at the expense of destroying PCB.
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May 17, 2014 06:09pm
Justice Pakistani style. One court decides in favour, other court over turns the decision, next stop Supreme Court. Appointee of Zardari government,Zaka Ashraf is back in the saddle, previous sheriff in the town looking tall while the appointee of Nawaz Sharif , journalist Najam Sethi is looking a diminutive figure.Najam Sethi forgot his right place which was print & electronic media especially TV talk show, but the allure & perks of chairman PCB were too tempting to ignore. He got what he deserved. Back to square one. What happens next, is any body's guess. In the meantime game of the cricket is on down hill slope.
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May 17, 2014 06:10pm
You are saying good bye to NS, which NS? Najam Sethi or .....
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May 17, 2014 06:10pm
And by playing these jokes they expect to win the upcoming World Cup.
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May 17, 2014 06:13pm
making joke of their own institutions then how we expect Pakistan to win WC 2015 when our own house is not in order and playing this coming and going game all the time.Time to settle down the issues and concentrate on WC2015 team building.
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May 17, 2014 06:16pm
35 punchers
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May 17, 2014 06:16pm
@JJ one positive though, since last 5 years or so courts are over ruling executive's wrong decisions, we have have somewhat independent judiciary in the country even if only at the highest level.
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May 17, 2014 06:19pm
This is shameful. PCB has become a joke in the world. What about all those appointments of coaches, Sethi made ? These appointments stand or will be gone with Sethi ? Other boards do not respect PCB chairman, as whatever they discuss, may be gone the next day. I hope, Prime Minister respects this decision and gives some other position to Najam Sethi as reward for fixing punctures.
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May 17, 2014 06:21pm
Its not even a news anymore, daily routine matter. I think Sethi was appropriate for the job. This insanity needs to stop. Imagine the dent on PCB credibility by this, Courts are certainly misusing their powers.
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May 17, 2014 06:21pm
Does anybody even care if Pakistan loses the WC? Nobody.Not even our own cricket team.
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May 17, 2014 06:23pm
While others thrive with politics,Pakistan is infested with politics
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May 17, 2014 06:23pm
When is the PM going to grow up, first it was FDE chairman and now PCB, who is next?
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May 17, 2014 06:26pm
I hope our PM learns a lesson and stop making a mockery of sports. This kind of news tarnishes the image of the country too....
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May 17, 2014 06:29pm
I guess the Islamabad court should share the burden on the courts of other cities, which haven't reached judgement for cases laying there over a period of over 10 years now. After all, the IHC doesn't appear to have much else on its plate.
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May 17, 2014 06:33pm
Don't worry NS you will get many more chances soon.......
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May 17, 2014 06:34pm
AAP in India = Aam Aadmi Party..... AAP in Pakistan = Aik Aur Puncture !
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May 17, 2014 06:37pm
Najam Sethi was awarded the position by the king for services rendered for king.
Rule of law was upheld by IHC.
More small instances of justice will make a better Pakistan.
But pace is slow and at this speed of supremacy of law will take a 1000 years.
Process needs speeding up.
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May 17, 2014 06:38pm
what a farce! if he had any integrity, Zaka would also resign this job, now that he has proved his point.
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May 17, 2014 06:40pm
I am feeling dizzy.
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May 17, 2014 06:43pm
What in the world is going on?
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May 17, 2014 06:44pm
Comedy show continues..
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May 17, 2014 06:47pm
Now we would like to see his stand against the Big Three
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May 17, 2014 06:49pm
What a joke of the decade?
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May 17, 2014 06:49pm
lage raho
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May 17, 2014 06:50pm
Court order needs to be respected ....but what about allegations of extravagant and illegal spending during his stint at the top ? Hope court also looks into the allegations and seeks clarification to justify the spending.
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May 17, 2014 07:01pm
The charade continues.
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May 17, 2014 07:05pm
I am not surprised at all. This is cricket.
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May 17, 2014 07:08pm
@Shan: PCB has become one among the funny episodes like 'Friends', 'Everybody loves Raymond'
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May 17, 2014 07:12pm
What a joke! That is how the PCB runs and so the team.
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May 17, 2014 07:14pm
36th Puncture.....and mother of all punctures...
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May 17, 2014 07:22pm
why should a P.M. interfere in cricket matter...his attention need more important state matters
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May 17, 2014 07:24pm
@Amanullah Khan ..i think he mean both
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May 17, 2014 07:31pm
Musical chairs game continues...even courts like this game.
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May 17, 2014 07:37pm
For how long? Is the game of See-Saw going to end along with the PML(N)'s government?
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May 17, 2014 07:56pm
Let our courts take over the job in their own hands,,,,,as they are the only samajhdar and righteous people in this world.
Their great and thoughtful decisions in the past have brought superb quality of justice system un Pakistan.
staying construction of underpasses/flyovers and removing/reinstating of PCB heads is the last but not the least feathers in there caps.
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May 17, 2014 08:01pm
shame on najam sethi, who is being rewarded by the nawaz shareef on thehelp he provided him in rigging the polls.... shame on nawaz shareef and double shame on najam sethi who is always working against Pakistan. May Allah Alimighty Teaches lesson to such traitors of the country. Amin
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May 17, 2014 08:09pm
One puncture fixed, 34 more to go. Well done IHC. Najam Sethi doob maro!
Nawaz Sharif should request Imran Khan to step in and fix the PCB mess. It is not your cuppa tea, NS!
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May 17, 2014 08:16pm
This is what AZAD ADLIA and Democracy ka husaan. A mule will die laughing.
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May 17, 2014 08:28pm
And the circus continues. One Pendo out another Pendo in
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May 17, 2014 08:31pm
I think PM has to address other matters of great importance. We know he likes cricket but he has to stop playing game with his nation. And focus on bringing peace to this country.
Can someone tell me how many police and other officials are on duty to protect prime minister and his family?
One criterea to judge how much peace has come to Pakistan is by juding the number of police on duty to protect this elite class whose live is more important than the life of those whose votes have brought these people to power.
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May 17, 2014 08:39pm
What will be the fat of NS decisions taken by him during his tenure to strengthen the PCB.
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May 17, 2014 08:41pm
In the best interest of cricket the patron-in-chief Nawaz Shareef should meet the judge and the CJ to sort out this matter once for all. When you don't have a system in place all these problems are bound to happen. In the end Pakistan cricket is suffering. Zaka Ashraf will come back and he will fire Waqar Younus, Moin Khan, Zaheer Abbas and other people. He will probably restore Amir Sohail and M. Ilyas Khan as chief selector. M. Ilyas will restore his son-in-law Imran Farhat and fire Fawad Alam.
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May 17, 2014 08:47pm
Its a shame that the head of a so-called Democratic Government removed Elected Chairman of PCB and appointed Najam Sethi for his punctures during Elections 2013. I hope Zaka is not removed again by by the PM or Pattern in Chief the President of Pakistan to again favor Geo-Jang Group.
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May 17, 2014 09:00pm
Sethi has already done the damage. He has done what he was appointed for.
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May 17, 2014 09:01pm
Are there only two people (Sethi and Zaka) left in Pakistan to run this show. Please wake up and think about the nation and not the ego or the individuals. Remember our team was a world champion and where is it now. We need devoted people and not those who are only appointed due to monetary or political gains.
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May 17, 2014 09:16pm
Thanks to super corrupt Arsalan and his shameless dad Iftikhar Chaudhry today whoever pays courts can get decision of his choice. Tomorrow Sethi will pay another court and get his judgement. Courts are joker circus thanks to corrupt Iftikhar Chaudhry
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May 17, 2014 09:17pm
Nawaz sheriff Should become the CHAIRMAN of the PCB
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May 17, 2014 09:17pm
a true depiction of state of matters in Pakistan ,,,,, Sad in 60 plus years we have learnt little
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May 17, 2014 09:41pm
What is working right in Pakistan? Why do you expect any difference in running of the cricket board.
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May 17, 2014 09:57pm
Both Sathi and Ashraf lack appropriate credential to be head PCB!
PCB needs professional people with appropriate knowledge of International cricket!.
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May 17, 2014 11:18pm
Unfortunately, it is a FACT, that whichever project the Govt of Pak gets involved! its pulled down to ashes! hmmm lets see.. railways, PIA, steel mill... cricket .. why should that be left alone??? and lets not even go to the amazing transportation system we have from the govt! ..
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May 17, 2014 11:23pm
Great news.
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May 17, 2014 11:31pm
so drama continues.Najam may not be the best person for this job. But Zaka is not also. He had 2 years as chairman and not much to take out of it. Recently published audit report has some astonishing findings. Travelling and transport expenses. M Ilyas is also back as selector. and we have seen lot of his achievements in past.
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May 17, 2014 11:45pm
You Pakistanis are really a nation of Joke !!!! World's all jokers are in one country. !!!
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May 17, 2014 11:57pm
Sad for Sethi Sahib. His devoted puncture fixing availed him and his favourites nothing.
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May 18, 2014 12:20am
Mr 35 Puncture . Now tell me who is really puncture. Loving every second of your suspension.
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May 18, 2014 01:02am
Will the Pak military now do a coup on PCB?
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May 18, 2014 01:03am
Kacha papad, Pukka papad, Kacha papad, Pukka papad, Kacha papad, Pukka papad.....this is brilliant comedy.
The entire cricket world is laughing at us.
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May 18, 2014 01:14am
@Riaz. ..... Pakistan is not a kingdom. Sports are run by indepedent Boards/Corporations having their own jurisdictions to function throughout the world. PM/president has no right to interfere in the affairs of independent bodies.
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May 18, 2014 01:16am
Looks like Mr.Sethi's puncture is
fixed for good,his treading in
unfamiliar waters is over .
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May 18, 2014 01:27am
Embarrassing. Firstly, PCB should be made autonomous with government having no jurisdiction over it. It should be governed by an independent elected board of private citizens. Secondly the courts need to stop interfering in every decision made by the executive branch of the government until and unless a decision or an appointment is unconstitutional or is detrimental to public exchequer
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May 18, 2014 01:46am
Where is Ehsan Mani? Zaka seems to be an okay guy, but not competent as Ehsan Mani. Najam Sethi should never be appointed any position at PCB. How can someone give there 100 percent who have multiple jobs. Waqar as head coach is an okay choice. Flower as batting coach is a wrong choice, he was a mediocre player playing for Zimbabwe. We need a batting star coach, who can inspire youngsters.
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May 18, 2014 02:57am
Although Zaka Ashraf is a good man it was beyond him to get rid of the corruption in PCB. Now the courts are beginning to play musical chairs. What a shame.
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May 18, 2014 09:02am
We will continue to be a this useless debate as long as our courts interfere in the administrative matters instead of providing justice to the common people.
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May 18, 2014 09:27am
PCB chairman is the 4th most powerful and influential position in the country. First, second, third & fourth being the Army chief, American Consulate general, CJ and PM.
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May 18, 2014 09:27am
The chairman being removed and reinstated would be fine, except that both of them bring with them their own set of favourite managers and coaches which is going to ruin Pakistan Cricket.
A professional should be the PCB chairman: not a journalist and certainly not a politician.
This makes you miss Tauqir Zia...
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May 18, 2014 09:35am
For how many days!
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May 18, 2014 10:49am
I like that, it mean our court are not under control of govt, thats good news.
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May 19, 2014 09:02am
Plz don't play this hide & seek game for the sake of millions of cricket lover Pakistanis. Besides Cricket World Cup is mere few months away and Pakistani players need to concentrate on their game plan rather than being confused k ab ye chairman kab hatay ga.
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May 19, 2014 09:17am
We are cricket's undisputed world champs - played in our courts.
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May 19, 2014 12:47pm
People have to wait years for them to get the courts to hear their cases. Yet pcb don't have that problem. When will our government and institutions grow up.
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May 19, 2014 04:40pm
waisay yeh admi bhi bara dheeth hei. akhir politician jo hua.
Pakistan zindabad.
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May 19, 2014 08:47pm
@Prince ...Very True.
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