Najam Sethi set to become PCB chairman for a third time

Sources say PM wants to reward Sethi for his role in holding PSL final in Lahore

KARACHI: Najam Sethi is slated to replace Shahryar Khan as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the latter’s decision to step down, daily Express has learned.

According to sources, the head of PCB’s Executive Committee and member of the cricketing body’s Board of Governors (BoG) will be ‘elected unopposed’ once the prime minister accepts the current chairman’s resignation.

Shahryar on Thursday confirmed he has decided to step down as PCB chief before his term officially ends in August 2018. Speaking to reporters, he said he no longer wants to continue as the board’s chairman, adding that he has already sent his resignation to the premier. Shahryar’s comments confirmed a report Express had broken weeks ago.

According to PCB rules, a new PCB chairman must be elected within 28 days of the previous one stepping down. Any member of PCB’s BoG can be a candidate for the post.

Speaking to Express, sources said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is very happy with the role Sethi played in holding the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Lahore. The match translated into a major boost in political support for the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and premier wants to reward Sethi, who is also the PSL chairman, for this, they said.

The sources added that it had been decided that Sethi will be the next PCB chairman and no candidate will be fielded against him in the election for the slot.

All present members of PCB’s BoG support Sethi, sources said. However, their terms too are set to expire on August 6, 2018, which is why the election for next chairman is likely to take place as soon as possible.

Sethi’s election may also be challenged in a court of law and Sethi, who is aware of these developments and has faced a similar situation before, has started legal consultations to prepare for such an eventuality.

Sethi has served as PCB chairman twice before, from June 2013 to January 2014 and from February 2014 to May 2014. He was engaged in a legal battle with former PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf during that time.

(TRANSLATED BY ARSHAD SHAHEEN)