LAHORE -
Newly elected Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf Friday defended his election as a PCB chief terming it as legal and ‘democratic one’ and also claimed the cricket board’s new constitution was drafted in line with the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules.
Addressing a press conference, the non-technocrat PCB chief seemed in a fix as most of the questions asked by the journalists made him speechless and he referred those questions to PCB legal adviser Tafazzal Rizvi. Rizvi tried to satisfy the journalists but he also remained fail to clarify whether the PCB constitution was a democratic one or a representative?
Zaka said he had greater responsibilities and new challenges ahead regarding uplift of the game including revival of international cricket in Pakistan which was though a tough task yet not impossible. “I have a heavy load of responsibility to play active role in a more efficient way for giving new dimensions to Pakistan cricket after being elected as a PCB chairman,” he added.
Replying to a cluster of queries regarding challenging his election in the court under the new constitution, Zaka said: “Let the court decide it as it is not that big issue. The ICC has felicitated the PCB for adopting a new constitution which is duly approved by the cricket ruling body. We are very pleased and contented that with the approval of this constitution, we have averted the ICC’s possible action against the PCB.”
“The new constitution defines the role and powers of everyone, even its patron who, according to the constitution, cannot take decision without it,” he said.
The PCB chief dismissed the objections on his election saying he was elected through ‘representatives process’ and all constitutional formalities were fulfilled in this regard. He said the new constitution represented all the stake holders and in the BoG, all the regional bodies would be given representation through the process of rotation under which a representative could be a member for a term of one year. “This process will ensure that all the stake holders both from regional bodies and the departments get equal chance in the BoG.”
To a query, he said the criticism by some former chairmen of the PCB regarding his election was their own point of view but they should realise that Pakistan had finally been able to frame a constitution which was the ICC approved. “With the passage of time, we will see that this constitution is helping us in achieving progress as far development of cricket is concerned with defined roles and responsibilities for every one related to PCB.”
When asked PCB legal adviser Tafazzal said: “There is no provision of no confidence in the constitution against the chairman and there is no bar on him for contesting elections for a specific number of terms but the patron of the PCB can remove him as per the laid down criteria in the constitution and the patron just cannot appoint directly any one as the chairman of the board and his election must take place by the Board of Governors.”