- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,977
By Muhammad Ali
As is its usual condition at any given moment, Pakistan cricket is enmeshed in a new controversy. Last week, at the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) annual General Council meeting in Lahore, in an astonishing, indeed shocking, but secretly premeditated move, the participants were ‘forced’ to pass a unanimous resolution nominating Najam Aziz Sethi as the next chairman. The resolution was moved by Shakil Sheikh, an Islamabad-based journalist, a close ally of Sethi and not particularly known for taking principled and ethical stands on any issue. As befits such a chameleon personality, Shakil was associated with all four previous PCB chairmen, a rare feat. His particular talent lay in discerning the winds of change, and ‘altering when he alteration finds’, in order to win the favour of the new boss. He swiftly ditched Zaka Ashraf, an Asif Zardari protégé, whose position had become shaky when the PML(N) won the 2013 general election, and not only hitched up with Sethi, but also played a dubious part in maligning and then ousting Ashraf.
Then started the legal tussle between Sethi, who had the full backing of the Prime Minister, and Ashraf, and the revolving-door decisions of the courts, with Ashraf ousted one day, and Sethi another, made the country a laughing stock. When the Supreme Court of Pakistan finally took up the matter, Sethi, aware that his unceremonious exit was a certainty, gave a ‘political’ statement before the apex court that he was not a contender for the coveted PCB chairman post. And under this ploy, Shaharyar Mohammad Khan took over the reins of Pakistan cricket, but with Sethi as the real power behind the throne. Sethi inwardly believed that Shaharyar, who was on the wrong side of 80, would soon recede from the scene informally surrendering his post to him, but the dream did not materialize, because Shaharyar, a former foreign secretary, started exerting himself. The tussle led to the launching of Pakistan Super League and Sethi becoming the undisputed King of Pakistan’s own Twenty20 league. But he never gave up the hope of becoming PCB chairman.
Now, with Shahrayar due to bow out in August, Sethi has launched a desperate battle to replace him, of which the surprise resolution at the General Council meeting was the first shot. But it is a moot point whether he is successful as many as four contenders are reportedly in the race and under consideration in the Prime Minister secretariat. But at the same time, critics are of the view that the patron has many valid reasons to spoil Sethi’s desire to become the chairman. Both Sethi and Shakil are an essential part of a large Media Group. Their presence in the PCB is a notorious conflict of interest which Shaharyar had never tolerated during his first term when he had forced former Test captain Ramiz Raja to choose between a PCB job and television commentary.
The General Council resolution was also intended to put undue pressure on the patron and force his hand to name Sethi as the next PCB chief. Sethi, who is already wearing twin hats as PCB executive committee chairman and Pakistan Super League chairman, is so desperate to become Pakistan cricket chief that his sycophants in the General Council even forwarded his name for the 'Pride of Performance' award for his ‘significant contribution’ to Pakistan cricket especially the holding of the PSL final in Lahore. But it is possible that his appointment if made may still be challenged in the Supreme Court as he had previously renounced his interest for the post before the apex court. As for the Lahore PSL final, had the Pakistan Army not accepted the security responsibility on its shoulders, the PCB would not have been able to stage the event by itself.
Sethi’s judgement is also in doubt. He accepted the Big Three formula in world cricket which had been earlier rejected by Ashraf, and has since been dismantled due to Indian over lordship, and also took the crafty Indians on their word when they agreed to play multiple series against the greenshirts. He and Shaharyar recently returned empty-handed from Dubai when the BCCI again refused a bilateral series. Surely some clauses for compensation in case of Indian default should have been settled before hand as Pakistan cricket is suffering due to paucity of funds.
To be fair, however, to the naysayers, the PCB has much to answer for. It has been ruled by unaccountable generals, bureaucrats, judges and politicians who have treated it like a personal fiefdom, enjoying perks and privileges, squandering resources and promoting favouritism. So the sycophants and the cronies in the PCB – media, marketing, administration and legal departments – are having the time of their lives while those doing their jobs with competence and honesty are being shown the door.
The practice of appointing people with no basic understanding or knowledge of cricket, of for that matter, of hockey, must end. Those appointed under the system of patronage are untouchable even for debacles and scandals because of their proximity to and affiliation with influential figures. Now, the choice is clear cut: the PCB needs an immediate and wholesale overhaul at the helm with reputed former professional cricketers brought in, otherwise it will continue to wallow in the depths and ultimately decline beyond repair like our national game hockey.
– Courtesy Daily Times.
As is its usual condition at any given moment, Pakistan cricket is enmeshed in a new controversy. Last week, at the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) annual General Council meeting in Lahore, in an astonishing, indeed shocking, but secretly premeditated move, the participants were ‘forced’ to pass a unanimous resolution nominating Najam Aziz Sethi as the next chairman. The resolution was moved by Shakil Sheikh, an Islamabad-based journalist, a close ally of Sethi and not particularly known for taking principled and ethical stands on any issue. As befits such a chameleon personality, Shakil was associated with all four previous PCB chairmen, a rare feat. His particular talent lay in discerning the winds of change, and ‘altering when he alteration finds’, in order to win the favour of the new boss. He swiftly ditched Zaka Ashraf, an Asif Zardari protégé, whose position had become shaky when the PML(N) won the 2013 general election, and not only hitched up with Sethi, but also played a dubious part in maligning and then ousting Ashraf.
Then started the legal tussle between Sethi, who had the full backing of the Prime Minister, and Ashraf, and the revolving-door decisions of the courts, with Ashraf ousted one day, and Sethi another, made the country a laughing stock. When the Supreme Court of Pakistan finally took up the matter, Sethi, aware that his unceremonious exit was a certainty, gave a ‘political’ statement before the apex court that he was not a contender for the coveted PCB chairman post. And under this ploy, Shaharyar Mohammad Khan took over the reins of Pakistan cricket, but with Sethi as the real power behind the throne. Sethi inwardly believed that Shaharyar, who was on the wrong side of 80, would soon recede from the scene informally surrendering his post to him, but the dream did not materialize, because Shaharyar, a former foreign secretary, started exerting himself. The tussle led to the launching of Pakistan Super League and Sethi becoming the undisputed King of Pakistan’s own Twenty20 league. But he never gave up the hope of becoming PCB chairman.
Now, with Shahrayar due to bow out in August, Sethi has launched a desperate battle to replace him, of which the surprise resolution at the General Council meeting was the first shot. But it is a moot point whether he is successful as many as four contenders are reportedly in the race and under consideration in the Prime Minister secretariat. But at the same time, critics are of the view that the patron has many valid reasons to spoil Sethi’s desire to become the chairman. Both Sethi and Shakil are an essential part of a large Media Group. Their presence in the PCB is a notorious conflict of interest which Shaharyar had never tolerated during his first term when he had forced former Test captain Ramiz Raja to choose between a PCB job and television commentary.
The General Council resolution was also intended to put undue pressure on the patron and force his hand to name Sethi as the next PCB chief. Sethi, who is already wearing twin hats as PCB executive committee chairman and Pakistan Super League chairman, is so desperate to become Pakistan cricket chief that his sycophants in the General Council even forwarded his name for the 'Pride of Performance' award for his ‘significant contribution’ to Pakistan cricket especially the holding of the PSL final in Lahore. But it is possible that his appointment if made may still be challenged in the Supreme Court as he had previously renounced his interest for the post before the apex court. As for the Lahore PSL final, had the Pakistan Army not accepted the security responsibility on its shoulders, the PCB would not have been able to stage the event by itself.
Sethi’s judgement is also in doubt. He accepted the Big Three formula in world cricket which had been earlier rejected by Ashraf, and has since been dismantled due to Indian over lordship, and also took the crafty Indians on their word when they agreed to play multiple series against the greenshirts. He and Shaharyar recently returned empty-handed from Dubai when the BCCI again refused a bilateral series. Surely some clauses for compensation in case of Indian default should have been settled before hand as Pakistan cricket is suffering due to paucity of funds.
To be fair, however, to the naysayers, the PCB has much to answer for. It has been ruled by unaccountable generals, bureaucrats, judges and politicians who have treated it like a personal fiefdom, enjoying perks and privileges, squandering resources and promoting favouritism. So the sycophants and the cronies in the PCB – media, marketing, administration and legal departments – are having the time of their lives while those doing their jobs with competence and honesty are being shown the door.
The practice of appointing people with no basic understanding or knowledge of cricket, of for that matter, of hockey, must end. Those appointed under the system of patronage are untouchable even for debacles and scandals because of their proximity to and affiliation with influential figures. Now, the choice is clear cut: the PCB needs an immediate and wholesale overhaul at the helm with reputed former professional cricketers brought in, otherwise it will continue to wallow in the depths and ultimately decline beyond repair like our national game hockey.
– Courtesy Daily Times.
