Pakistan Super League (PSL) Chairman Najam Sethi has been elected unopposed as the 30th chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) amid high hopes of revival of international cricket in Pakistan. He was elected in a meeting of the Board of Governors (BoGs) of the PCB chaired by Justice Afzal Haider (retd), here at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) on Wednesday.
Sethi, who earlier served as PCB chairman twice, has been elected PCB's new chairman following the end of Shaharyar M. Khan's tenure as chairman on August 6. Sethi will serve as PCB Chairman for a term of three-year starting from August 9. This is the third time Najam Sethi is heading the PCB, as he was also the board chairman from June 2013 to January 2014 and February 2014 to May 2014.
After election, Najam Sethi also chaired a meeting of the Board of the PCB and expressed gratitude to the BoGs members for choosing him unanimously and reposing their trust in him. Sethi also addressed a news conference in which he vowed to fulfill his responsibilities as PCB head to the best of his capabilities. He said the PCB's challenge is to revive international cricket in Pakistan.
About the expected World-XI tour to Pakistan, he said the PCB officials already held a couple of meetings with the Punjab government and till now we have the green light for the tour. "We are having agreements with the players who are interested in coming here and hopefully all the matters will be finalized within the next seven days," he said.
When asked about bilateral series with India, Sethi said he had "not closed any doors". "I think that as soon as relations between India and Pakistan improve, the Indian government will permit the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) to participate in a bilateral series."
To a query about Under-19 World Cricket Cup, Sethi said, "We are asking for a neutral venue for this event rather than holding it in India and the issue will come under discussion with the International Cricket Council (ICC) in his upcoming visit to Sri Lanka." He said cricket infrastructure is being improved at the grassroots level and results will be evident in the next few months.
Regarding dismal performance of women cricket team in World Cup event, he vowed to take steps for improvement of women cricket. Former chairman PCB Shaharyar Khan in his message to Najam Sethi said: "I am sure his experience and guidance will bring cricket in Pakistan to higher levels and will end Pakistan's isolation in international cricket."
Former cricketer Wasim Akram felicitated Najam Sethi on his election as PCB chairman and assured support. He said, "Many people before him discussed the idea of PSL but no one was able to materialise the plans. Sethi not only made it possible, but organised two successful editions of Pakistan's top class T20 league and also the final of the second edition in Lahore."
Former cricketer Rashid Latif believes Sethi is the man you can trust to take PCB to the top. "Sethi is the best choice for the chairmanship of PCB. Sethi has been trying to invite international teams to Pakistan and he will succeed in that too," he said.
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