A Pakistan Cricket Board official said Tuesday the nation's president
has appointed banker Zaka Ashraf as the board's new chairman.
Ashraf, 59, will replace Ijaz Butt whose controversy filled three-year term ended on Oct. 8.
The PCB official, who spoke to The Associated Press
on condition of anonymity because the announcement is yet to be made,
said Pakistan president and board patron Asif Ali Zardari met the new
chairman on Tuesday. Formal notification of Ashraf's appointment is
expected soon.
Butt had often been criticized by ex-test players and officials since his appointment in 2008.
Earlier this year, the International Cricket
Council recommended that the PCB introduce elections in order to remove
government interference in the sport's administration.
But the PCB rejected the proposals and Pakistan cricket continues to be run on an ad-hoc basis.
The last five PCB chiefs have been a politician, a
general, a retired diplomat, a technocrat and a retired test cricketer —
now a banker has been directly appointed by the president.
Three years ago Ashraf was made president of Pakistan's top agricultural bank — Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL).
Foreign teams have not traveled to play in Pakistan
since gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka team's bus at Lahore in March 2009 —
just five months after Butt took over as chairman.
Since then Pakistan has been forced to organize its
home series in the United Arab Emirates. It also played a 'home' series
against Australia in England last year.
Spot-fixing, player disputes and the appointment of a new head coach are the key areas that need Ashraf's immediate attention.
Three Pakistan players were found guilty of
spot-fixing for bowling deliberate no-balls in a test match against
England last year and were later banned by the ICC for a minimum of five
years each. A separate criminal case against Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir
and Mohammad Asif is currently being heard by a London court.
Former captain Shahid Afridi may come out of
retirement, having quit international cricket due to differences with
coach Waqar Younis and Ijaz Butt earlier this year.
Chief selector Mohsin Khan has been appointed as
interim coach for this month's series against Sri Lanka as a three-man
committee is yet to recommend a new head coach from a shortlist of five
candidates. AP
