LAHORE: Wasim Khan, English county Leicestershire’s chief executive, has been appointed as the new managing director of the Pakistan Cricket Board. Wasim, who has been one of the leading lights of the ECB’s drive to engage British Asians in English cricket, forged his career as CEO of the schools’ cricket charity, Chance to Shine, before taking over at Grace Road in 2014. He has been appointed to the PCB on a three-year contract, starting on February 1, following a comprehensive two-phase selection process featuring over 350 candidates. Wasim was sounded out for the role by Ehsan Mani, the former ICC chairman who was himself appointed as PCB chairman earlier this year by the country’s new Prime Minister, former Pakistan all-rounder Imran Khan. “I am delighted to be offered the position of Managing Director of PCB — a role which I have accepted as a challenge,” said Wasim. “I have my roots in Pakistan, a country which is full of talent. I will be relocating to Pakistan with my family who are as excited as I am.” Mani added: “We welcome Wasim who will be joining the PCB soon. He was selected unanimously following a robust interview process with some seriously good candidates. I must thank each and every applicant who participated in this process. Wasim brings with him fresh ideas and knowledge of cricket, and he will receive the support of the Board and the management of PCB. We have started the process of revamping the PCB and under Wasim, we now have an experienced leader of the management team who will oversee the implementation of the Board decisions. His first task would be to oversee the reforms of domestic cricket structure.” Constitutionally, Mani will retain significant executive powers within the PCB’s new hierarchy, but Wasim is expected to take a lead role in the board’s corporate governance framework, working with all the PCB’s board-of-governors committees. He will have a major say in the execution of approved strategies – in particular the reinvigoration of Pakistan’s domestic cricket, with a proposed move to eight regional sides – and is also expected to oversee the development of the PCB senior management executives to improve the board’s functionality and professionalism. Wasim, 47, played county cricket in England from 1995 to 2001, during which he represented Warwickshire, Sussex and Derbyshire. He was awarded MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 2013 and two years later, he was appointed as the Chief Executive of the Leicestershire County Cricket Club where he has enjoyed an extremely successful stint. Wasim is expected to start his time at the PCB around early February 2019. Published in Daily Times, December 7th 2018.