The soap opera that the PCB has become
Since May 2013, the PCB chiefs have been removed and reinstated seven times. The removal of the chiefs sends shockwaves all around the Cricket Board. Decisions taken by the previous management are frequently reversed, members of important bodies changed and new selection committees brought in. The infighting between the two claimants has led to a lot of mudslinging which has damaged the reputation of the Board. The strife has provided media enough material for hilarious parody. Any institution subjected to shocks of the type is likely to become thoroughly demoralised. As the recent episode shows, the PCB affair has turned into a soap opera with dramatic upsets amid Byzantine intrigues.
Institution building requires a strict adherence to rules and regulations. The way the PCB affair invariably turns up at the courts indicates that those at the helm of the affairs are not strictly abiding by the laws. Any perception of cronyism in top appointments is bound to affect the morale of the entire institution, all the more so when a chief is seen to have little experience of cricket. This encourages senior cricketers to question the chief’s decisions and challenge his competence and authority. Chiefs appointed on ad hoc basis have been criticised for taking long term decisions like signing MoUs with India for eight years or making long term appointments.
The unending upheavals in PCB have made it a butt of jokes at home, providing enough matter to electronic media for running parodies. They have brought bad name to Pakistan among the international cricketing community. The uncertain situation in PCB is being widely held responsible for the sad state of cricket in the country.
The issue has once again landed in the court of the higher judiciary. One hopes the apex court would deliver a verdict which puts an end to litigation and brings stability to PCB. One also hopes that the government would accept the decision in letter and spirit.
