Former chief selector takes PCB to court

Ilyas contends that after Ashraf’s dismissal, his contract was terminated without providing any lawful justification.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday issued notices to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi and others on a petition filed by former Chief Selector and Chairperson of National Selection Committee Muhammad Ilyas for non-extension of his contract and a freeze on his pension and other benefits.

Ilyas contended that after former PCB chief Zaka Ashraf’s dismissal, his contract was not extended without any lawful justification. Ilyas was appointed as the chief selector during the tenure of former PCB Chairperson Zaka Ashraf.

In his petition, Ilyas contended that this was done because of a grudge against him on part of the new interim-management of the board headed by Najam Sethi.

The petitioner also claimed that he was reappointed to the post after Ashraf’s reinstatement in light of the final judgment of the IHC. However, the prime minister, being patron-in-chief of PCB, terminated Ashraf and appointed an interim management committee which later selected Najam Sethi as the chairperson of the board.

Ilyas said that Sethi terminated his contract, adding that the court had directed the board to release his pension and other benefits but the order has not been complied with. He sought contempt of court proceedings against the PCB chairperson and other respondents.

Justice Shahid Waheed issued notices to the respondents and directed them to submit their replies by May 7.