POTW : NauV

[MenInG]

With Imran Khan's (impending) arrival as PM comes some rumors about Najam Sethi's removal from post of PCB Chairman. To put some sense in this argument, one should go no further than NauV's post which we have chosen as POTW.

Congratulations to [MENTION=141847]NauV[/MENTION]

Knowing Imran Khan through some of his close aides as well as watching him over the years, one thing he will absolutely not compromise on is building institutions! That is what he believes in . . Regardless of what he does as PM (when he gets elected), one things for sure, he is going to try his best to fix our state institutions and PCB is one of them . .

Now coming to this post . . See, until yesterday, I was off the opinion that Najam Sethi has arguably done good work while being at the helm of the PCB and has been appreciated from many quarters! and hence, I was hoping that he would congratulate the PTI for winning the elections, congratulate IK on becoming the PM (and hence the Patron of the board), put the past behind and start dialogue on how to make PCB an institution that is independent and does not have any political interference!

. . . . . and that did not happen!! In fact, quite the opposite . .

Now, I think Najam Sethi needs to go for 3 reasons:

1. Najam Sethi was a political appointment! He was appointed by the ex PM, Nawaz Sharif. Najam Sethi is still considered to be a very close aide of the Sharif family . .
2. He has already said that he doesn't believe in the legitimacy of this govt. and hence morally, I think he should resign himself!
3. There is no love lost between Najam Sethi and IK and clearly Sethi sb hasn't put that behind him and has furthered the narrative of the Sharif family through this article!

Hence, I don't think it would be possible to ensure PCB becomes an independently run and governed institution devoid of any political interference and favors with Sethi sb at the helm!

I would have liked if Sethi had approached Khan sb and talked about how to make PCB an institution! But now, Sethi needs to go!

Hopefully, IK makes an appointment based solely on merit! As I said above, I would be very disappointed if any appointment is made that is not on merit.

 

[topspin]

Excellent post well deserved

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

quality post. Very well put.

 

[shariqnoor]

You're contradicting yourself. You say Najam Sethi needs to go because he is a political appointment yet right at the end you say that you hope IK makes an appointment solely on merit. If IK is the one making an appointment, how is this any different to being a political appointment given IK is the Prime Minister? If anything, IK should allow the BOG to elect a new Chairman if IK indeed wants to make PCB apolitical.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Excellent post.Well deserved winner of POTW.

A merit based appointment is key to the future of Pakistan’s cricket.

 

[hadi123]

Great effort. Congrats

 

[NauV]

You're contradicting yourself. You say Najam Sethi needs to go because he is a political appointment yet right at the end you say that you hope IK makes an appointment solely on merit. If IK is the one making an appointment, how is this any different to being a political appointment given IK is the Prime Minister? If anything, IK should allow the BOG to elect a new Chairman if IK indeed wants to make PCB apolitical.

Najam Sethi was a political appointment. Both you and I agree . . It was not a merit based appointment . .

Someone like an Ehsan Mani as an example, would be an appointment on merit regardless of who appoints him . .

By political appointment, I don't mean that he/she is/was appointed by a politician. What I mean is that the appointment was NOT made on merit but more on political affiliation. Hence, going by my above example, if for instance, Ehsan Mani is made the chief, that would not be because of his closeness to IK but because on merit, he is the right person for the job!

A political appointment may or may not be on merit. Najam Sethi's appointment was not on merit. However, as I have accepted, he has done good work and has been appreciated!

To your later point, I agree! However, you have to start somewhere . . where do you start fixing the institution? The way I understand it is that the BOG has 10 members. 4 from the regions, 4 from departments and 2 appointment by the patron (PM of Pakistan) and then the BOG votes to elect the chief (please correct me if I am wrong). So whoever the PM is, has the right to appoint 2 people on the board (I disagree with that process to begin wit . . but again you have to start somewhere) . . What I would like to see happen is that the new govt. appoints 2 people on merit and then works with the BOG (or the new chief) to work up a procedure where political interference stops in the PCB and from here on in, everything is done on merit and by process. My disappointment is that unfortunately, it doesn't seem like it can happen with Mr. Sethi. You can disagree with me though and that's completely understandable

 

[shariqnoor]

Najam Sethi was a political appointment. Both you and I agree . . It was not a merit based appointment . .

Someone like an Ehsan Mani as an example, would be an appointment on merit regardless of who appoints him . .

By political appointment, I don't mean that he/she is/was appointed by a politician. What I mean is that the appointment was NOT made on merit but more on political affiliation. Hence, going by my above example, if for instance, Ehsan Mani is made the chief, that would not be because of his closeness to IK but because on merit, he is the right person for the job!

A political appointment may or may not be on merit. Najam Sethi's appointment was not on merit. However, as I have accepted, he has done good work and has been appreciated!

To your later point, I agree! However, you have to start somewhere . . where do you start fixing the institution? The way I understand it is that the BOG has 10 members. 4 from the regions, 4 from departments and 2 appointment by the patron (PM of Pakistan) and then the BOG votes to elect the chief (please correct me if I am wrong). So whoever the PM is, has the right to appoint 2 people on the board (I disagree with that process to begin wit . . but again you have to start somewhere) . . What I would like to see happen is that the new govt. appoints 2 people on merit and then works with the BOG (or the new chief) to work up a procedure where political interference stops in the PCB and from here on in, everything is done on merit and by process. My disappointment is that unfortunately, it doesn't seem like it can happen with Mr. Sethi. You can disagree with me though and that's completely understandable

Agreed. And Congrats!!!

 

[Pete Rose]

Najam Sethi was a political appointment. Both you and I agree . . It was not a merit based appointment . .

Someone like an Ehsan Mani as an example, would be an appointment on merit regardless of who appoints him . .

By political appointment, I don't mean that he/she is/was appointed by a politician. What I mean is that the appointment was NOT made on merit but more on political affiliation. Hence, going by my above example, if for instance, Ehsan Mani is made the chief, that would not be because of his closeness to IK but because on merit, he is the right person for the job!

A political appointment may or may not be on merit. Najam Sethi's appointment was not on merit. However, as I have accepted, he has done good work and has been appreciated!

To your later point, I agree! However, you have to start somewhere . . where do you start fixing the institution? The way I understand it is that the BOG has 10 members. 4 from the regions, 4 from departments and 2 appointment by the patron (PM of Pakistan) and then the BOG votes to elect the chief (please correct me if I am wrong). So whoever the PM is, has the right to appoint 2 people on the board (I disagree with that process to begin wit . . but again you have to start somewhere) . . What I would like to see happen is that the new govt. appoints 2 people on merit and then works with the BOG (or the new chief) to work up a procedure where political interference stops in the PCB and from here on in, everything is done on merit and by process. My disappointment is that unfortunately, it doesn't seem like it can happen with Mr. Sethi. You can disagree with me though and that's completely understandable

Congratulations on your POTW, it definitely has some valid points. I do however disagree that Ehsan Mani is worthy of a PCB post. He has spent his time away from pakistan cricket basically pillorying the ICC or BCCI. That alone is not disqualifying, but frankly he was heading the ICC at a time where these positions were largely ceremonial. I see no reason why he deserves a shot at the job.