Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi is likely to be appointed as the next Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
He is expected to replace Zaka Ashraf as the Chairman of PCB. Interestingly, Mohsin Naqvi has also been the Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab for more than a year now. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has given a nod to his inclusion in the management committee.
Naqvi, a media channel owner, confirmed his appointment as the head of the management committee. Speaking to media, he said “I will try to fix the issues affecting Pakistan cricket. Reforms in cricket are the need of the hour,” Naqvi said.
Zaka Ashraf replaced Najam Sethi as Chairman of PCB on July 6, 2023.
“I was working for the betterment of cricket but it is not possible for us to work in this way,” he said as per the people present at an ongoing committee meeting.
“Now it is up to Prime Minister [Kakar], whomever he nominates [will take my place],” he added.
Fans have not expressed excitement over the possible nomination of Mohsin Naqvi as the Chairman of PCB. They believe ICC may object to his appointment as political.
Read more: Alleged audio tape of Zaka Ashraf discussing removal of Babar Azam leaked
The inconsistent setup is badly affecting the function of the PCB. Several controversies were erupted during the tenure of Zaka Ashraf. He was alleged for running a slanderous campaign against former captain Babar Azam. Ashraf also removed Babar Azam from captaincy.
Criticism has arisen from former cricketers and the public after Chairman of the PCB Management Committee, Zaka Ashraf, revealed a personal WhatsApp message from skipper Babar Azam during a TV show. This action was taken in response to media reports suggesting that Ashraf was not responding to Azam’s messages or calls.
Former Pakistan skipper and wicketkeeper batter, Rashid Latif, had previously claimed that Babar Azam was not receiving responses to messages sent to Ashraf, CEO Salman Naseer, and Director Usman Wahla.
During a recent TV show, Zaka Ashraf contradicted Rashid Latif’s claims, asserting that Babar had never directly contacted him, thus refuting any issue of non-responsiveness. To clarify the situation, Ashraf displayed a screenshot of a conversation between Babar Azam and the PCB CEO.