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NEW DELHI: Under scrutiny, PCB chief Zaka Ashraf is reportedly set to receive an extension from the caretaker government headed by Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar.
Reliable sources have indicated that PM Kakar conducted a meeting with former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on Thursday. During this meeting, the Prime Minister purportedly requested the all-rounder to collaborate with the PCB under Zaka Ashraf’s leadership.“The caretaker PM wanted Shahid to contribute to Pakistan cricket and work with the existing set-up but the all-rounder conveyed his reservations about working with the current managing committee,” one source told PTI.
The current managing committee was initially granted four months to conduct elections for a new board of governors and a new chairman. This period is set to conclude on November 5. However, the Prime Minister, serving as the chief patron of the PCB, holds the authority to provide an extension through the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination.
According to a well-informed source, Ashraf has been leveraging his political and business connections to secure an extension. He purportedly conveyed messages to the Prime Minister requesting more time, citing that decisions concerning the Pakistan team were primarily made by his predecessor Najam Sethi, who was replaced in July.
This plea for an extension seems to be based on the premise that Ashraf was not directly responsible for the previous decisions taken around the Pakistan team.
“Zaka has told the powers that be that he couldn’t make any changes or take strong decisions because of the Asia Cup and World Cup for which selections and appointments were already made by Sethi,” he said.
The source said that the caretaker PM had been sent a summary by the ministry of sports and he would take a decision in the next 24 hours on whether to retain the current managing committee or appoint a new interim set-up in the board.
If Zaka Ashraf continues in his position and with the upcoming Test tour to Australia, there are strong indications that he might consider appointing a new captain and forming a new team management for the Pakistan cricket squad.
The decision regarding potential changes could also hinge on whether Pakistan, by some miraculous turn of events, secures a spot in the World Cup semifinals.
Another source suggested the possibility of Afridi being appointed as an interim PCB chairman, which remains a conceivable scenario.
Considering the general elections scheduled for February 8, it is anticipated that whoever comes into power through the new government will likely introduce their own affiliates into the PCB, possibly resulting in further changes within the organisation.
(With PTI inputs)



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