The chairman of the interim management committee (IMC) of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Najam Sethi, while welcoming the Supreme Court verdict, hoped that the direction set by the apex court had indeed put an end to the ambiguity over the PCB affairs. “The Supreme Court has decided all the petitions and now Zaka Ashraf has no role. Elections for the PCB chairman will be held within 30 days after the appointment of the election commissioner. As soon as the election commissioner is appointed, I and the IMC would go home. I have no intentions to contest for the post of chairman.” said Najam Sethi, while talking to this correspondent. “The elections will be held under the amended PCB constitution, which was not only approved by the SC but also was described as a truly democratic document”, added Najam Sethi.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan, on Monday, directed the PCB to conduct an election for the chairman’s post. The SC also directed the incumbent chairman Najam Sethi to continue until the appointment of an election commissioner and an acting chairman. The PCB matters entered the courts after the elections of the chairman, under Zaka Ashraf, were held in May 2013. Later, as a result of High Courts’ verdicts & Government notification, Sethi and Ashraf have had multiple terms as PCB chairman. The matter was brought to the Supreme Court lately by the Government and PCB. On a question Mr. Sethi denied the introduction of a powerful post in the amended constitution.
“There is no powerful Managing Director coming in, in fact the powers of the chairman have been curtailed to empower the Board of governors. The chairman can now be dismissed through two-third majority votes”, stated Najam Sethi Najam Sethi hoped the affairs of the Pakistan Cricket Board would be streamlined after the upcoming elections, added that the BoG would keep a strict check on every move by the executive [the chairman]. “The verdict of the Supreme Court has put a lid on the musical chair and now the PCB would usher into an era of stability”, hoped Najam Sethi. “I have had a word with the team management as well and have assured them of a much stable time in the offing”, concluded Sethi.