PCB amends its constitution

President of Pakistan retains say in the appointment of PCB chairman.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has amended its constitution in the way its chairman is appointed and the structure of its governing board, espncricinfo.com reported on Monday.

The President of Pakistan, who doubles as the patron of PCB, will continue to play a central role in appointing the chairman of the cricketing body. The 22-page document of the new constitution said that the President of Pakistan will now recommend at least two candidates for the chairman's slot. The candidates will be evaluated by a four-member nomination committee, which will then recommend one to the board of governors, which will have to endorse the appointment unanimously. The board chairman's term has also been extended from three years to four.

Further amendments included the make-up of the four-member nomination committee will comprise two members from the board of governors and two representatives appointed by the President of Pakistan.

The 14-member board of governors has also been restructured. It will include five regional representatives selected in rotation, five representatives of service organisations and departments, two non-voting former cricketers appointed on the recommendation of the chairman and two non-voting technocrats picked from a panel of three recommended by the chairman in consultation with the President of Pakistan. The term of each member will be for one year.

Previously, the President had the only say in appointing the chairman of the board. He was also required to approve the appointment of the governing board members. The President also has the power to relieve the chairman of his post.

The PCB has been criticised in the past because its constitution allowed the chairman near-dictatorial powers, though the amended constitution too maintains that status quo. The chairman can control and oversee income and expenditure in accordance with the budget approved by the board of governors.

The new constitution is likely to be implemented in stages by June 2013, to avoid any dysfunction in the system. Incumbent chairman Zaka Ashraf is likely to remain in office till the new constitution takes effect.

In 2011, the ICC required that its member boards become autonomous and free of interference from governments by June2013. Removal of government interference had also been one of the Woolf report recommendations approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The new constitution was produced as a result of the ICC directive and was approved on February 13, vetted by the Ministry of Law on the suggestion of the PCB and ICC feedback.

 

The draft of the constitution was shared with the ICC before its finalisation and according to a PCB official most of the feedback from the ICC had been incorporated. "The ICC has worked closely with the PCB on this matter, including by reviewing the proposed constitutional provisions in respect of the appointment of the President and providing feedback to the PCB for further consideration by the Pakistan government," an ICC spokesperson said.