Prime Minister asks Shaharyar to continue

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is patron-in-chief of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has rejected Shaharyar Khan’s resignation and asked him to complete his three-year term.

Shaharyar had sent his resignation to the PM before going to attend the recent International Cricket Council (ICC) meetings in Dubai.

Shaharyar had said that due to health and personal reasons he would like to step down on April 30.

“But after Shaharyar returned from Dubai after attending the ICC meetings where the Big Three governance system was rolled back, he was informed by the PM House that he should complete his term which ends in August,” a source said.

The PCB chairman is the nominee of the PM on the Board of Governors.

“Apparently the PM is happy with Shaharyar’s work and the way he handled the Big Three issue at the ICC meetings,” the source said.

The decision to ask Shaharyar to complete his term will help PCB in its legal battle against the BCCI for compensation for not honouring the MoU signed between the two boards.

Shaharyar has made it clear that the PCB wanted to have good relations with the BCCI but it had been forced to go for legal action.

“We have suffered major losses because of India’s refusal to play the bilateral series as per the MoU and we can’t allow this to continue. If India confirms it is willing to resume bilateral cricket it will be a positive development for cricket in the region,” said Shaharyar, who also served as chairman of PCB from 2003 to 2006.

Najam Sethi, who is presently head of the executive committee in the PCB, is tipped to succeed Shaharyar as chairman.