PCB postpones meeting with PSL franchises due to chairman elections

Matters involving broadcasting rights and title sponsorship were bound to be discussed during the meeting

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to postpone meeting with Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises due to the imminent chairman elections.

As the PCB is currently without a permanent chairman, the interim chairman of the board Justice (retd) Syed Afzal Haider has decided to delay the meeting until the new chairman takes charge of affairs.

The meeting holds significant value as important matters including broadcasting rights, title sponsorship and team value of every franchise are supposed to discussed, bearing in mind the next edition of PSL.

Earlier the franchises had written a letter to the PCB in order to seek clearance about who will preside over the meeting in absence of the chairman. It must be noted that the invitations for the meetings were sent out before Najam Sethi resigned from his post as PCB chairman.

The franchises are also concerned that due to change in PCB’s leadership, new contracts might not fetch great value and it might become difficult to lure sponsors for the next season of PSL.

Despite the concerns put forward by the franchises, one owner is optimistic about landing a good broadcasting deal as Ehsan Mani — who is Imran Khan’s pick for the next PCB chairman — has vast experience in this field.

Zakir Khan appointed as Director International Cricket

Meanwhile the Haider also appointed former Test cricketer Zakir Khan as Director International Cricket. The latter stressed on the need for planning appropriately for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

“Pakistan has to play non-stop cricket till the 2019 World Cup and for that it is important to plan accordingly so that the team is in great shape for the mega event,” he said.

Zakir was removed from the same position during the reign of former PCB chairman Najam Sethi and has also served as manager of the Pakistan Cricket Team in the past.

“I have prior experience about working in this role and would try to add more solidity to Pakistan cricket by taking good decisions,” he said.

He also highlighted the need to work on young talent by stating: “We need to focus on junior cricket as well, alongside the senior side, as it will help in honing skills of youngsters.”