Sethi said yesterday that the Pakistan Cricket Board was in ‘deep crisis’ as 89 officials, including key employees, lost their jobs. PHOTO: EXPRESS
According to Sethi — suspended as PCB’s interim chairman by IHC last week — the officials include Pakistan’s bowling coach Mohammad Akram, who is currently a part of the team in the UAE.
“Contracts of a total of 89 employees have expired on October 31, 2013,” Sethi told state television.
“Neither is there anyone to take a decision on their renewal or cessation — the Board of Governors or Interim Management Committee (IMC) — nor is there a chairman after the court orders.
“This list also includes 27 low-grade employees like cooks and gardeners.”
Sethi added that the selection committee has also lost the power to select the Twenty20 squad for the matches against South Africa and named Intikhab Alam and Haroon Rasheed, who were serving in key posts, among officials who now have to depart.
“The list also includes 30 coaches and trainers who are associated with domestic teams; the PCB has come to a standstill and is in a real state of crisis.”
‘South Africa tour now cancelled’
Meanwhile, Sethi claimed that board also lost an opportunity to earn US$ 1.5 million as a return tour of South Africa, following the ongoing home series, had to be cancelled.
“We had almost finalised the tour to South Africa, which was to start on the 16th of this month. All requisite correspondence was done but the court intervened as we were about to sign the contract.
“Cricket South Africa has now cancelled the series due to the shortage of time.”
Will selectors discuss T20 selection today?
On the other hand, an official close to the selection committee claims that the selectors are set to give the final touches to the team for the two T20s to be played on November 13 and 15.
“The selection of U19 team for the tri-Series is also on the agenda on Monday [today]” the official told The Express Tribune.
It is pertinent to mention here that the selection committee did not receive any communication about its termination till the filing of this report.
The Pakistan Television reported that the government has decided to challenge Sethi’s suspension by the IHC at the Supreme Court, and a crucial hearing on the status of PCB Chairman is set to start today.
Asma Jehangir, the lawyer for the government of Pakistan, is expected to file an affidavit in the divisional bench of IHC questioning the bench’s decision to announce a stay order which was later not included in the written order on October 29.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 4th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (11)
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PCB is right now in a bad situation and it will be noticed globally. please stop making fun of Pakistan, only sports should be away of political syndrome. Former Chairman should be reinstated he can be a key at this difficult point........! Court should notice this and take quick action.
Court should take a serious initiative in this node they should restore Zaka Ashraf former PCB Chairman, and let him complete his tenure.
Najam Sethi
When you were ordered to hold election almost 3 months ago, why did you not hold them according to a plan?
Say the truth that you wanted to keep this post permanently
The reality is that this is all your fault
Why a journalist with no prior experience of sports management given this job? Please pick right people for right job.
So 89 contracts were expiring on October 31, yet till October 29 no one had taken a decision on renewal? That is reason enough to fire the entire board. Sethi needs to be fired and the circumstances of his appointment need to be looked into. Why does the chairman Need to approve a tour with south Africa? In any real institution this would not be the Chairman's job.
Mr.Sethi, you should have known long time ago that these contracts were going to expire on October 31,2013 and you did not do anything, it seems you are blaming every one but your self. Why did the court ordered you to leave the post, I ask why, there was some reason to it. Any way the cricket board is on the mend even with out you, You should be prosecuted for not doing your job for which you have been paid handsomely, well,for our consolation you are facing the contempt charges now and rightly so.
Will the judiciary will at least keep its nose out of something for God's sake?
Mr Sethi may not be the ideal choice, but there are better ways to change the system and find his replacement.
It appears that amid countless ongoing problems in the country, no one in the government has any time to resolve the lingering crisis in the PCB.
With the demise of hockey and squash, cricket is the last remaining game that attracts the attention of the entire country, but is in dire straits since the attack on the Sri Lankan team. What a shame.