asked to make new constitution for PCB.
Sethi said that all members of the committee elected him as PCB chairman, such that some of the committee members reached Lahore and those who couldn’t come in person cast their opinion through SMS and e-mail.
Najam Sethi said that the new PCB Constitution would be formulated in consultation with all the stakeholders. “My election is constitutional,” he added.
He made it clear that positive decisions of the former PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf would be retained, while his wrong decisions would be subject to discussion.
He blamed Zaka Ashraf for mishandling the issue of ‘Big Three’ and noted that Pakistan was standing neither with the Big Three nor with ICC but stands alone. He said that this matter would be handled professionally and pragmatically.
Meanwhile, Zaka Ashraf said that a democratically-elected government has killed the democratically-elected cricket board.
Talking to journalists here, Zaka said he has yet to receive the notification and any future legal course would be decided once he get the notice of his removal.
He said the PCB constitution was amended and followed on the International Cricket Council directions and that was followed by the elections of the chairman.
He said that he was the first elected chairman of the PCB and steps contrary to the democratic norms would damage the game.
Zaka Ashraf said he was still the PCB chairman and the government’s decision would not have an impact on his post, adding that he did not accept the changes.
Zaka further said that he is ready to give details of the accounts. He said the government is giving benefit to one person and for that it had dissolved the entire board.
“I even tried to meet the prime minister for the betterment of cricket and did not want to meet in a personal capacity,” he added.
“The prime minister’s reluctance to meet me was a clear massage that he did not want me in the office. I came to the board with a will to make Pakistan number one ranked team in the world.
“The ICC has already been saying that in every meeting PCB official changes. For any legal or constitutional action I will consult friends,” the defunct PCB chairman said.
Zaka Ashraf claimed that the Big Three decision would not affect Pakistan’s cricket, however, a meeting would be called to review its affects.
He said international teams would come to Pakistan for which the security situation should be improved.
Meanwhile, the member of the PCB’s ad hoc administrative committee Shakil Sheikh said that Zaka Ashraf was accused of grave administrative and financial mismanagement due to which Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was compelled to make a timely decision. He said that the white paper against Zaka Ashraf would appear in one or two days. He said that Zaka Ashraf tried to go beyond his limited powers, and was involved in corrupt practices.
He said that one of the glaring examples of Zaka Ashraf’s patronage of malpractices was former test cricketer Basit Ali who was involved in gambling in Karachi.
Talking to media persons Shakil Sheikh said that the interim administrative committee had been made after annulling the PCB Constitution. He said that if Zaka Ashraf could not speak and understand English language, how he could advocate the case of Pakistan at the international level. He also accused him of earning the opposition of India on the issue of ‘Big Three’. He remarked that all the appointments made by Zaka Ashraf were illegal, and the talented members of the Committee would help restore the prestige of Pakistan at the international level.
