PCB likely to create post of director cricket

LAHORE: Newly-elected chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja is most likely to create a post of director cricket to implement his cricketing plans, instead of relying on the officials appointed by previous chairman Ehsan Mani.

It is learnt that the director cricket will have the powers to deal with all domestic and international cricket affairs. Though director cricket operations international Zakir Khan and director National High Performance Centre Nadeem Khan will continue to work, major powers will be given to director cricket.

Moreover, PCB chief executive Wasim Khan may continue to complete his contract expiring in February next year. After his departure Ramiz will not appoint any new CEO, rather will prefer to also enjoy his powers.

But how Ramiz will manage to control Wasim’s powers — given to him by Mani — till February 2022 will be a test case for the former Test opener as approval of the Board of Governors is required for determining the powers of every key PCB official like chairman, CEO and others.

Meanwhile, good news is not coming for director commercial Babar Hameed, as the non-availability of decision review system (DRS) in the home series against New Zealand starting on Friday in Rawalpindi, is said to be the result of negligence committed on the part of his department.

Due to this mistake, the PCB and New Zealand Cricket had to change the status of the three-match ODI series — which was part of the ICC World Super League — into a bilateral contest. According to a report, PCB’s commercial department took a late decision on the DRS, ignoring the fact that difficulties could arise as the Indian Premier League and the India-England series will also be in progress during these days.

Currently, Babar is on leave. Ramiz in his first press conference as PCB chief on Monday in Lahore expressed his displeasure over this development, and while answering a question said he would personally study the case.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2021