PCB Chairman Najam Sethi resigns, Ehsan Mani to replace him

Published August 20, 2018
Newly-appointed chairman PCB Ehsan Mani. — Photo: File
Newly-appointed chairman PCB Ehsan Mani. — Photo: File

There was a leadership change at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday, with Najam Sethi resigning from his chairmanship of the board and being promptly replaced with Ehsan Mani by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Mani previously represented the PCB at the International Cricket Council, cricket's governing body, as Treasurer for three years and later headed the body for another three years from 2003 to 2006.

Sethi, who has had longstanding differences with Imran Khan, said he had been waiting for the new prime minister to take oath before submitting his resignation.

"I wish PCB all the best and hope our cricket team goes from strength to strength," he tweeted on Monday. "Eid Mubarak. Pakistan Zindabad."

The text of his resignation recalled his appointment to the PCB's Board of Governors by ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif from 2014 to 2017, and then again by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from 2017 till 2020.

Read: Dear Mr PM-to-be, please let cricket be

He recalled that PM Khan "said on many occasions that you have a vision for Pakistan cricket."

"Therefore, it is only proper that you should assume charge and responsibility for assembling a management team for PCB that enjoys your full confidence and trust," he added.

"In order to facilitate your objectives in the interest of Pakistan cricket, I hereby submit my resignation as Chairman of PCB and Member of its BoG," the letter read.

New govt must allow PCB’s current regime to continue its good work: Sallu

Prime Minister Imran Khan had in 2014 accused Sethi of being 'rewarded' with the PCB chairmanship in return for '35 punctures' — an allusion to the 'fixing' of results of 35 constituencies in the 2013 election in favour of the PML-N.

According to the PTI chief and his loyalists, on election night (May 11, 2013), Najam Sethi had called PML-N party chief (and then prime minister) Nawaz Sharif and assured him that “35 punctures” had been fixed.

The tip-off about the phone conversation, according to Naeemul Haq, chief of staff to the PTI chairman and the first person to tweet about it, had come from an ambassador of a 'key western power'.

Opinion

Who bears the cost?

Who bears the cost?

This small window of low inflation should compel a rethink of how the authorities and employers understand the average household’s

Editorial

Internet restrictions
23 Dec, 2024

Internet restrictions

JUST how much longer does the government plan on throttling the internet is a question up in the air right now....
Bangladesh reset
23 Dec, 2024

Bangladesh reset

THE vibes were positive during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent meeting with Bangladesh interim leader Dr...
Leaving home
23 Dec, 2024

Leaving home

FROM asylum seekers to economic migrants, the continuing exodus from Pakistan shows mass disillusionment with the...
Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...