New government brings survival challenge for Ashraf

Ousted Sialkot, Faisalabad officials sharpening tools for PCB chief’s removal.

KARACHI: The top officials of Sialkot and Faisalabad regions where the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) imposed an ad-hoc system have vowed to accelerate their campaign against Chairman Zaka Ashraf’s removal, as the new government looms after the general elections.

Both the associations tussled with the PCB after electing Ashraf for a four-year term through an electoral process as per the new constitution. But, the process saw no representation of the country’s largest province and city, Punjab and Karachi respectively.

The two bodies filed a petition against the election at the Lahore High Court terming it illegal with the hearing due on June 18.

The PCB, while giving reasons for the snub of the major associations, insisted that elections in the two regions along with other regional bodies were due and subsequently imposed an ad-hoc system forming interim committees there.

Associations to demand ‘justice’ from new govt

The development added fuel to fire in the tussle as Sialkot and Faisalabad have vowed to fight their case with full strength.



“First of all we will challenge the ad-hoc,” Zulfiqar Malik, who led the Sialkot Region, told The Express Tribune.

“We already went to court challenging the election and while the case was under trial, the PCB imposed an ad-hoc which is illegal.

“We will also register our strong demand to PML-N [new government] to take notice of the false election which was rather a selection.

“The leadership of PML-N is keen in promotion of cricket and we will brief them in detail about the whole episode. Hopefully, it will ensure transparency in the PCB set-up.

“I will advise Ashraf to walk himself out of the PCB office because he did not follow the required criteria.

“He was a political appointee and since his party has now lost the mandate his fake election drama will not work.”

Meanwhile, Chaudary Mohammad Anwar of the Faisalabad Region has vowed to fight till the end.

“The new government has brought lot of hopes to rescue cricket,” he said.

“We will make demands to the new government while we are also preparing a strong case for legal battle with the help of our lawyers.”

A sports analyst close to the PML-N leadership said the party will definitely look in to the matter soon after settling.

‘PCB followed all ICC recommendations’

A PCB official close to the chairman sounded unperturbed about the opposition.

“The associations challenging are at the wrong end since they haven’t held elections in their own regions,” said the official.

“The new PCB constitution is in line with the ICC’s recommendations and any government intervention may invite trouble.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2013.