Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Zaka Ashraf hosted a farewell reception for former PCB chief Ijaz Butt at the National Cricket Academy on Monday. Senior PCB officials gathered to say farewell to Ijaz Butt who completed his three-year term on October 8. The farewell ceremony commenced with the signing of a formal handing over from former chairman Ijaz Butt to the new chairman Zaka Ashraf.
The signing over was followed by speeches from the chairman and his predecessor. In his speech, outgoing chairman Ijaz Butt thanked the new chairman and staff and said, “I would like to thank the President and Patron in Chief of PCB Asif Ali Zardari for his support throughout my term. I am sure that my friend and successor Zaka Ashraf will receive the same support. I would like to thank all the PCB Management and staff for diligently performing their duties in tough times. I hope that all of you will work with the same vigor and give the new chairman the same support that you have shown me for the past three years” In his address on the occasion, Chairman PCB Zaka Ashraf said: “I am grateful to Mr. Ijaz Butt for his valuable contribution to Pakistan cricket.
He has done an excellent job despite facing many challenges. We have a huge challenge in front of us and as the former chairman has said, I will need your support so that we can work for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. We have to work very hard to bring international cricket back to Pakistan. We have to remove the negativity created because of the spot fixing trial and move forward. I would also like to recognise the chairperson of the Women Wing chairperson Mrs. Bushra Aitazaz for her efforts to improve the women’s game which have seen our women team grow from strength to strength. I wish Mr. Ijaz Butt all the best for the future.”
Chairman PCB Ch Zaka Ashraf then presented outgoing Chairman Ijaz Butt with a shield and a souvenir on behalf of the PCB in recognition of his services to Pakistan cricket. In 2009 after a gap of 17 years, Pakistan won a major international trophy when they clinched the ICC World T20 in England. Pakistan also registered their first Test win against Australia after 15 years at Headingly last summer. Pakistan also qualified for the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup in 2011.
