A full year after the removal of the last elected chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi is all set to assume the role. Naqvi has been nominated for the board of governors’ position vacated by Zaka Ashraf. This makes him eligible for the chairmanship. He is expected to retain his caretaker CM’s role until the upcoming general elections, scheduled for February 8. The outlook beyond the general election is uncertain, as the country typically sees the prime minister, who is the patron in chief of the board, using this lucrative post to reward loyalists.

The vacancy at the helm arose when Zaka Ashraf resigned last week, just before the latest three-month extension in his role as the chairman of the Interim Management Committee was set to expire. When he was initially appointed to lead the IMC in July, Ashraf’s primary task was to finalise the Board of Governors and hold elections for the board chairman within four months. Having failed to achieve this goal, the committee got an additional three months. He has now resigned, citing interference from the Inter-Provincial Coordination Division.

Before that, Najam Sethi had been the head of the PCB Management Committee after the removal of Ramiz Raja in December 2022. He quit the post in June 2023 for political reasons, leading to Ashraf’s appointment. The latter then presided over a fairly chaotic term during which he was frequently accused of “flagrant misdoings and unconstitutional decisions,” including the removal of Babar Azam after a disappointing World Cup campaign.

In theory, the prime minister nominates only two members of the PCB’s board of governors, which also includes four members from regional associations and four from service industries. In practice, one of these two nominees wins the election, even though the PCB operates through its own constitution, generates its revenues and receives no grants, funds, or monies from either the federal or provincial governments, the consolidated funds or the public exchequer. Given the financial perks and the power that comes with the post, it is one of the most sought-after positions in the country.

The board has historically been headed by politicians, civil servants, military men, physicians, journalists, industrialists and former judges. Some of them have had no experience in sports management or the sport itself. It was not until 1972 that a test cricketer, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, became its chairman. Since then, it has been led by several international cricketers including Javed Burki, Ijaz Butt and Ramiz Raja. There is an ongoing debate about whether it is better to have a player as chairman or not. The jury is still out. The top post is about much more than just the selection or running of the cricket teams. They do have the right to make the final call on major decisions including the appointment of the captains and coaches, but the scope of the work goes beyond that.

Whoever comes to power next needs to bring professionalism and a fresh approach to the board; otherwise, they will only add yet another tumultuous chapter to the board’s history.

The PCB chairpersons are the top representative of the country at international forums like the ICC and the ACC, where certain smartness and diplomacy are required. They also have to oversee the planning and execution of the development and expansion of cricket in the country. PCB is the highest-earning sports board in the country. They have been often accused of financial irregularities found through audits. Generally, cricketers do not have this kind of experience after a long cricketing career. Boards in Australia, England and New Zealand frequently prefer experts in key positions with a sports management background rather than going for big names.

On the other hand, it is hard for politicians to understand the dynamics as they are mostly driven by popular narratives or the need to maintain their own connections. Running the board is different from heading a battalion or a ministry. In the end, they all rely on the old guard to help them govern. This is why we have been seeing ex-cricketers taking up key positions again and again, regardless of who is at the helm of affairs. Recently, we saw new faces in team management during the last World Cup who connected well with the team and had interesting ideas, but it did not last long, and we are back to the old ways. The First-Class system has gone through several big changes over the last two decades. The inconsistency and state of confusion have only worsened the state of sport in the country. The system was completely revamped under the Imran Khan-led government, which was inspired by the Australian state cricket model, resulting in the closure of many teams by departments. The policy was reversed last year, leading to further revamping and confusion. A board like the PCB cannot sustain this kind of big revamp after every few years.

Naqvi, a media tycoon, enjoys the support of certain quarters. It is possible that he will keep the post after the general elections. This will depend, among other things, on the outcome of the elections.

According to ICC’s memorandum of association, each member must manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government (or other public or quasi-public) interference in its governance, regulation, and/ or administration of cricket in its cricket playing country (including in operational matters, in the selection and management of teams and in the appointment of coaches or support personnel). Any breach of this obligation can lead to suspension of the member from the ICC. This happened recently in Sri Lanka, where the board was suspended in November 2023 because of extensive government interference in the board’s administration. It would be interesting to see how the ICC reacts to Naqvi’s election as PCB chairman. Meanwhile, the looming general elections and the responsibilities of running the biggest province of the country would definitely affect the day-to-day operations of the Board.

Fortunately, the Pakistan cricket team does not have any cricketing commitments till May 2024, when they visit England before heading for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA. But the fact remains that whoever comes to power next really needs to bring professionalism and a fresh approach to the board. Otherwise, they will only add yet another tumultuous chapter to the history of the board.

The writer is a digital communication expert and consultant currently working in the public sector. He is the mastermind behind the digital platforms, Sukhan, Mani’s Cricket Myths and Over The Line