The head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee, Zaka Ashraf’s potential removal, is on the cards, potentially opening the door for a new chairman to lead the PCB.
This abrupt shift in PCB leadership appears to be influenced by recent political developments in the country. The former Shehbaz Sharif-led government transferred their ruling authority to a caretaker setup on August 9 with the announcement of upcoming elections.
Most importantly, it has come to light that the election commission has advised the government to eliminate all political appointments to ensure an impartial electoral process. In response, the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) contacted the Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary, identifying Zaka Ashraf as one such political appointee.
An IPC note has said, “Reference Election Commission of Pakistan letter No F-2(1)2023-Coord-vol dated August 15, 2023, and Guidelines Notification No 2 (1)/2023-Coord dated August 15, 2023 (Annex 1):
“In pursuance of para(g) of the notification ibid: “To ensure immediate termination of services of all heads of institutions headed appointed on political basis and to send all such cases to the commission for approval of termination or otherwise.
“Two cases pertaining to Ministry of IPC are submitted for consideration and appropriate orders please:
(i) Mr Zaka Ashraf (PPP), chairman, managing committee, Pakistan Cricket Board
(ii) Peer Syed Ahmed Nawaz Shah (PPP), chairman, Federation Land Commission (sic).”
While the PCB chairman’s post has traditionally been politically appointed, Ashraf’s situation is particularly interesting. He took on the role after Najam Sethi due to the Pakistan People’s Party’s insistence that their nominee would lead the PCB, given their influence over the federal sports ministry. This led to Ashraf taking charge of the PCB.
