Shaharyar tenders resignation as PCB chairman, vows to take BCCI to court

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar M Khan on Thursday tendered his resignation to the Patron-in-Chief of the PCB Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a news conference here that followed the Board of Governors (BoGs) meeting.

“I told the BoG members that I was elected as PCB chairman by them three years back, but now I have decided to abstain from candidature of PCB chairman or any other post,” maintained the outgoing chairman.

“It is my personal decision based on personal and health reasons,” Shaharyar added while stating that he had informed the prime minister that he was ready to resign.

“I told them (BoGs) that I have also sent all the details to the patron-in-chief that I am ready to resign and will go whenever he (the patron) accepts my resignation,” said the PCB chief during the news conference.

When asked about his course of action if the patron refuses to accept his resignation, Shaharyar smiled and said: “Then I will see what to do. If the resignation is accepted, then legal process will be adopted to elect the next PCB chairman.”

According to the legal procedure, any member of the current BoGs could be the candidate for the next chairman, he remarked. The most powerful BoG member Najam Sethi could also run for the post of PCB chairman.

While Shaharyar’s decision to quit at a time when only five months are left in completion of his three-year term in August this year has indeed come as a surprise to many, the front-running candidate for chairman’s post Najam Sethi could be dragged into the court of law if he chooses to go for the post.

It has also been learnt that even if the patron accepts Shaharyar’s resignation, he will represent the PCB in the upcoming ICC meeting scheduled to be held on April 24. He will also continue as BoGs member until August 2017 in case his resignation is accepted. Also, after the acceptance of Shaharyar’s resignation, Election Com­missioner of the PCB will start legal procedure to hold the elections in 28 days.

Shaharyar in his press briefing appreciated Sethi’s efforts in connection with the successful staging of the PSL and hosting its final in Lahore.

A record TV viewership was witnessed during the PSL, he said, adding that all those who worked for the successful conduct of the PSL deserved full appreciation.

Meanwhile, Dawn has learnt that BoG also recommended Sethi for the Pride of Performance award for his tremendous services in launching the highly successful PSL.

“Next year, the PSL matches will be held in more cities of Pakistan,” maintained the outgoing chairman who added that on the request of Sethi, audit of the PSL has already started and the final audit report may be released in June.

Talking about Pakistan-India series, the outgoing chairman said there was hardly any chance that India would play bilateral series against Pakistan amid all the negative vibes from the Indian government.

However, he said the PCB was ready to take legal action against the BCCI for its violation of MoUs signed with the PCB in 2014 under which six bilateral series were to be held between the two countries.

First, he said, the PCB would give a notice to BCCI as a warning and then the it would go to the ICC’s dispute-resolving committee.

“And if both the attempts fail, then the PCB would have the right to sue India in the World Court of Arbitration,” stated Shaharyar who insisted that the PCB had suffered losses in millions of dollars due to India’s refusal to play with Pakistan.

He said the new draft of the ICC constitution had been passed in the last meeting and member countries were asked to come up with proposal to be incorporated in the ICC constitution. There are reports that India is about to come up with quite a large number of proposals.

Talking about PCB’s biomechanics lab, the chairman said it would get the ICC affiliation in the coming June as successful negotiations were going on between the PCB and the ICC. He disclosed that after getting the affiliation, the PCB’s lab would be the sixth operating in any cricket-playing country.

He said Kabir Khan would continue as head coach of the national women’s cricket team which has been busy in preparation for the 2017 World Cup scheduled to be held in England in July.

Also, the outgoing chairman said the visit of Giles Clarke, who is the former chief of England and Wales Cricket Board, to Pakistan was very successful, adding that security officials of eight countries as well as that of the ICC submitted positive reports to their respective cricket boards and governments.

“A World XI would also visit Pakistan in September to play matches in Lahore and Karachi,” he said.

He further said the PCB’s annual conference would be held on May 9 and the BoGs has decided to announce Imtiaz Ahmad Award in commemorate the services of the late Test cricketer.

“A committee would also be constituted to announce best batsman, bowler, fielder, curator, umpire and best young player of 2016 and 2017,” said the chairman. “If any player received threats from bookies he should report to the PCB so that he could be protected.”