Daily Times

LAHORE: The Annual General Meeting of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution declaring that the government interference in the internal affairs of the PCB was not acceptable because it violated the democratic PCB constitution sanctioned and approved by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the International Cricket Council (ICC). With stakeholders from all over the country in attendance, the AGM 2016, with PCB chairman Shaharyar Mohammad Khan presiding over it, was held at a local hotel here yesterday. Also present on the occasion were PCB’s executive committee chairman Najam Sethi, PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad and other top officials of the board. It is pertinent to mention that the Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Ministry in Islamabad wants to get hold of the PCB and often interferes in the affairs of the cricket board, knowing fully well that the PCB is an autonomous entity and not under the domain of the IPC Ministry. To end political meddling in the game, the ICC in 2011 announced a ban on governments’ interference in appointments in national cricket boards. This regulation allows the ICC to suspend a member country in the event of government interference in the running of a national cricket board.

Shaharyar briefed the general body members about the PCB’s efforts in bringing international cricket back to Pakistan, which resulted in organising series against Afghanistan, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh women’s team. During his address, Shaharyar urged the regional presidents to promote school cricket. He emphasized that coaches had a very important role to play and the board would try to send level four coaches to different districts.

Above all, Shaharyar informed the participants on the successful holding of the Pakistan Super League in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sethi informed the AGM that the PSL was a huge financial success for the PCB and the franchises were also happy that the value of their assets had increased substantially. He explained that the PSL profits were substantially higher than projected. “PCB’s sponsorship initiative in the PSL had also drawn dividends for regional cricket, which has started to benefit the sport at the domestic level. Now we plan to broaden our PSL perspective by adding more sponsors and try to hold a couple of matches in Pakistan,” added Sethi. Sethi also said that the PCB would look into the participants’ grievances and try to solve in a specific time period.

With Subhan moderating the AGM, subsequently minutes of the last meeting were approved, Annual Report 2014-15 came under discussion and the house unanimously accepted it. Having met the stringent PCB criteria, in accordance with constitution’s Article 20, the AGM also recommended affiliation and playing rights to Panjgur District. The PCB chairman especially assured members from FATA, Balochistan, and Azad Kashmir of doing everything in the board’s power to facilitate promotion of cricket in their respective regions. In the end all members were given an opportunity to dilate upon their views, suggestions and proposals and air their grievances. Shaharyar assured the general body members that each one of the suggestions had been faithfully recorded and also that this feedback shall be given a sympathetic consideration in order to promote cricket across the country.