The new management committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) held its first-ever meeting in National Cricket Academy (NCA) Lahore under the leadership of the Chairman Zaka Ashraf on Thursday.
NCA director Zakir Khan and other officials welcomed Ashraf and expressed their full and complete confidence in the new chairman. The members further stated that they are more than ready to work with Ashraf and declared his appointment as a good decision for Pakistan cricket.
In the meeting, Chief Finance Officer briefed the Management Committee on the PCB budget. The chairman was also briefed on important issues including the construction of stadiums, and the central contract of domestic players.
Leading his first meeting as a chairman, Zaka Ashraf said that we will give our full attention to the improvement of cricket and cricketers. He issued strict instructions about the affairs of the cricket board and said that the complaints of rigging in the elections of regions and associations will be addressed. He added that transparent elections of regions and associations should be ensured.
The newly-appointed chairman expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Zardari.
“I am grateful to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Zardari as role models in chief. I will try to live up to their trust. We have to unite and work for the betterment of cricket,” he said while addressing the committee.
“We wanted to bid farewell to Najam Sethi in a dignified manner, we had also sent a message to Najam Sethi. We all have to work together for the betterment of Pakistan cricket,” he said.
Ashraf said that there is a need for improvement in many aspects including the Asia Cup and the World Cup.
He also directed the Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer to provide all the documents to the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination for the audit.
Ashraf said that if players are given good facilities in domestic cricket, then good cricketers will emerge, adding that Abbottabad, Mirpur and Hyderabad stadiums will be improved, hospitality boxes will be upgraded in stadiums, and more facilities will be given to cricket fans.
Efforts should also be made to increase the income of the Pakistan Cricket Board, the chairman added.
The new chairman said that keeping in mind the long-standing desire of the cricket fans of Peshawar, the early completion of Arbab Niaz Stadium should be ensured so that the fans of Peshawar can also enjoy PSL matches.
At the end of the meeting, the management committee also approved the decision of Zaka Ashraf, Salman Naseer and Faisal Hasnain to participate in the upcoming ICC meeting.
Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.