New cricket chief

PRESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari, chief patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board, has replaced Ijaz Butt with his old friend and classmate Zaka Ashraf as chairman of the PCB. Mr Ashraf has been shifted from the post of chairman of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited to the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board.

This move may further deteriorate the already-faltering PCB. No sensible person can prefer a sugar mills owner to former cricket players as chief of the PCB. Our government has always reiterated its mission to strengthen democracy and make institutions strong, but how can an institution become strong when its head knows nothing about it. Previous chief Ijaz Butt, a close relative of Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar, was also always involved in various controversies.

The newly-appointed chairman in his first interview exclaimed that he was willing to do all in his power to eliminate grouping and lobbying from the cricket team and only a player who performed would play in the team. But his selection is an open example of ‘grouping and lobbying’.

It is time the president realised that a layman should not be appointed as a chairman of a shaky institution in a bid to resuscitate it.

Cricket in Pakistan enjoys great importance.

Still we hope that the new chairman works day and night not only to come up to the expectations of the president but also of
passionate Pakistani cricket lovers so as to bring back the lost glory.