Former cricketers and renowned commentators Ramiz Raja and Asad Ali Khan have been nominated as members of the Board of Governors for the Pakistan Cricket Board by Prime Minister Imran Khan, it emerged on Friday.
According to an official notification, the premier, in his capacity as the patron-in-chief of the PCB has nominated the two former players to the board for a period of three years.
The development follows days of speculation over the appointment of the PCB chief, with Raja being one of the hopefuls and reports of the likelihood of outgoing PCB chairperson Ehsan Mani being asked to serve another term as his current one ended on Wednesday. Raja’s nomination lends some validity to the latter.
A day earlier, Ramiz Raja asserted that he had accepted the post of Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, as per Cricbuzz.
“The aim is to reset Pakistan cricket’s GPS and will be in pursuit of excellence,” Ramiz Raja was quoted by the website as saying.
Three days earlier, he had told the website, after meeting the prime minister, “I have given him (Imran Khan) my plans. He will make a call.”
Days after meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan, Ehsan Mani Thursday excused himself from continuing to work as the PCB chairman.
In a telephone call, Mani confirmed to Geo News that he is not interested in working as PCB chairman anymore.
When asked if he has suggested any name for the coveted post, he replied that the details for it will be released by Prime Minister Office.
Responding to another question, Mani said that he does not want to carry on his job as the PCB chairman. The sitting PCB chairman hung up the phone, saying that he has said whatever he has to say.
On the other hand, sources said that PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan has been given additional charge of the post of chairman temporarily as per the constitution of the board.
Earlier on August 24, a key official had told Geo News that Ehsan Mani was likely to serve as the chairman of the PCB for a second term.
The development came after media reports that the prime minister was considering appointing former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja as the PCB chairman.
Meanwhile, according to a report published in The News, Mani is likely to continue to be a PCB Governing Board member and ultimately contest elections as the chairman of the board for the second term in office.
Sources privy to the development said that it is believed Raja would serve as the deputy to the chairman for a specific period, and then again a change would come.
Mani and former Pakistan Test captain Raja on Monday had called on PM Imran Khan individually to discuss the future setup of the cricket board.
Mani was first to call on PM Imran Khan, who is also the patron of the board. Ramiz also met the premier for a short duration.
The likely scenario emerging from the meeting is that Mani and Ramiz would get the premier’s approval as the PCB Governing Board members for the next three years.
A source within the PM House revealed: “There are good chances that Mani would continue to be Governing Board member and ultimately contest elections as the chairman of the board for the second term in office. However, would he be able to complete his second term in office is another question.”
The News also caught up with Mani at a local hotel following his meeting with PM and questioned the outcome. “I am not in a position to share anything with you. It is PM House that will be making any statement on the meeting,” Mani told the publication.
