PM Kakar says Zaka Ashraf’s future as PCB chief to be determined after World Cup

Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said on Friday that Zaka Ashraf’s future as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief would be determined after the World Cup.

He made the remarks during an interview on Dawn News show InFocus where he was asked about his recent meeting with former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.

Asked whether the meeting with Afridi was in connection with the completion of Ashraf’s tenure as the chairman of the PCB Interim Management Committee, Kakar said that it was “just a social meeting”.

The prime minister, as patron of the PCB, has to decide on Nov 5 whether to replace Ashraf or retain him, as the four-month tenure of the incumbent chairman is ending on the said date. It is learnt that the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination had moved a summary in this regard to the prime minister.

When pressed about a possible extension for Ashraf, the prime minister said: “You know a tournament is under way and we will see what needs to be done on this issue after the tournament is over.

“At the moment I do not think we will make some big decision because at times you have to work according to the doctrine of necessity. Let us get over with the World Cup and then we will see.”

The comments come amid the Pakistan team’s disastrous run in the ICC World Cup in India.

Moreover, there are other issues concerning player power and the alleged involvement of the now retired chief selector (Inzamamul Haq) with players’ agencies which have earned bad names for the PCB during the past four months.

Further, Mustafa Ramday and Zulfiqar Malik, who are sitting members of the incumbent PCB set-up, alleged that illegal and unconstitutional steps were being taken by the provisional regime led by Ashraf.

Talking to Dawn, Ramday had said that he had written several times to Ashraf to work in accordance with the PCB constitution and remain within the domain, given to him by the prime minister.

“The [present] PCB chairman is allowed to deal with the day-to-day affairs but under this umbrella [of day-to-day affairs] a good number of appointments have been made in the PCB,” said Ramday, who was the second nominee along with Ashraf of the prime minister, who was eligible to contest the elections of PCB chairman.

“Though I have raised several questions regarding the illegal activities of the PCB, I did not get a reply of even one query submitted to the PCB chairman PCB,” Ramday added.

“My second concern is that the chairman has failed to hold the elections of the PCB chairman which is the main task given to him. No steps have been taken yet in this regard.

“The chairman has strictly advised all the PCB staff members not to share any documents of the Board with me so I may not get to know how many new employees have been hired by the chairman,” Ramday had alleged. “Nepotism and friendship are at the peak in the PCB affairs.”

Meanwhile, Malik had alleged that Ashraf’s son, Khan Mohammad, was playing his role in PCB affairs. The chairman also misused the office of the PCB Election Commissioner on political grounds and victimised the opponents and was involved in rigging elections in some regions, Malik had said in a letter to the premier, all members of the IMC and IPC secretary raising objections over what he claimed were unconstitutional and wrongdoings being practised within the present PCB set-up.

‘Govt to ensure free, fair elections’

Commenting on the announcement of the date for general elections, Kakar said that an agreement was reached between resident Dr Arif Alvi and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.

“My understanding is that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) finalised it (the election date),” he added.

The premier elaborated that in his view, the right to announce the election date remained with the ECP after recent amendments to the Election Act, 2017.

Asked about how the government would ensure a level playing field for all political parties in the run-up to polls, Kakar said all parties had the right and permission to stage rallies within the limits of the law and in consultation with local administration.

He said that political parties wanted to establish a “perception” of an unequal political arena to “attract the sympathies of their voters since this is a part of their narrative”.

“I look at this as part of a normal political process, this is not a very serious allegation on which the whole caretaker cabinet sits down to brainstorm a solution,” he said.

He said there was no restriction on any political party nor had any been declared illegal, and their candidates were free to file their nominations. Kakar said the caretaker government would ensure transparent, free and fair elections.