Desperate Ramiz hopes to continue as PCB chairman

KARACHI: On the sidelines of the second Test against Australia here at the National Stadium earlier this month, Ramiz Raja was asked by ‘The News’ about his plans in case the no-confidence move against Prime Minister Imran Khan succeeded.

“If that happens, I won’t wait (to resign),” was Ramiz’s prompt reply.

But ten days after Imran, the man who hand-picked Ramiz as Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), was removed from power, the former Pakistan Test opener is yet to quit.

Instead, he has been making desperate attempts to continue his stint as PCB chief.

On Wednesday, Ramiz reportedly claimed that that he has been told to continue as chairman even as reports emerged that the new PM Mian Shehbaz Sharif has asked his to step down.

Well-placed sources told ‘The News’ that former PCB chairman Najam Sethi is expected to return as the government has decided to replace Ramiz with Sethi.

However, sources close to Ramiz claim that the PM has asked him to continue.

On Wednesday, Ramiz called a meeting with board directors and other staff to tell them he was not going anywhere.

“I have been told to continue working as PCB chairman,” Ramiz told PCB staffers. “We should now focus on work rather than thinking about what is going to happen,” he said.

The meeting between PCB chairman and staff members lasted for 15 minutes.

It must be noted here that several projects including women’s and Junior PSL-like leagues are in the pipeline under Ramiz’s leadership. Preparations for new pitches in Karachi and Lahore ahead of new cricket season is also in full swing.

It is however, unlikely that he would be able to continue for long. The chairmanship of PCB is highly coveted and the new PM will soon hand pick a candidate to take over from Ramiz.

Constitutionally, the PM, as the PCB’s Patron-in-chief, nominates two members to the PCB’s governing board. The two then come through an election to become chairman, but in practice, this is a mere formality: the PM essentially appoints the chairman.

The position isn’t based on any set criteria though the PCB constitution requires the PM to name someone who is at least a graduate and isn’t convicted for any offences including fraud or corrupt practices.

No provision in the constitution allows the patron to withdraw the sitting chairman. The only way a chairman can be removed is through a vote of no confidence in the governing board, requiring a 3/4th majority. But generally, if the Patron wants the chairman changed, it is unusual for the incumbent to stay on. When Imran was elected PM in 2018, Sethi himself resigned and allowed Imran to bring in Ehsan Mani.