PCB all set to contest Latif’s petition

Board issued court notice following former captain’s plea for elections

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that it will contest the petition filed by former captain Rashid Latif who has called for reforms to the governing body, stressing the need for elections rather than appointment of officials.

The PCB’s legal counsel Tafazzul Rizvi said the board will challenge the petition whenever the court summons officials for the hearing.

“The petition has factual inaccuracies,” Rizvi told The Express Tribune. “For example, the petition said there’s no election in the entire set-up which is not the case. The board’s governing body members are elected officials. We will be giving complete facts which haven’t been given to the court in the petition.”

The former captain’s petition against the board was made at the Sindh High Court yesterday following which the board was issued notice.

“Latif filed a petition against the PCB for the betterment of cricket,” said a statement from the Rashid Latif academy which coaches young players. It said the PCB constitution must be overhauled to allow it to operate ‘in a fair and transparent manner’ and provide for the election of officials, including the chairman.

The chairmanship is currently a political appointment by President Asif Ali Zardari. The process has been strongly criticised by experts and former players, including the World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan. The International Cricket Council (ICC) last year directed member countries to free themselves of government interference by June 2013 and to ensure that presidents of cricket boards are elected. Pakistan opposed the ruling, saying it needs government support to develop the game and ensure security as it tries to revive international cricket which was suspended after the Sri Lankan team was attacked in 2009.

“Latif is convinced that the powers assigned to the patron of PCB are in complete disregard and violation of the constitution as they smack of non-transparent and discriminatory approach,” said the statement. “The blatant and admitted failure of the government to amend or pass a new constitution in accordance with the directives of the ICC is a clear cut and flagrant violation.”(with additional input from AFP)

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2012.