Newly-appointed Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf will formally assume charge of his office on Friday at the Gaddafi Stadium here. Ashraf was supposed to take charge on Monday but because of Pakistan People’s Party chairperson Nusrat Bhutto’s death in Dubai on Sunday, Monday was declared national holiday to mourn her death. “Delay happened because of the death of our leader Nusrat Bhutto and her funeral rites in Larkana,” said Ashraf. The long delay in Ashraf’s assuming charge had raised many questions in the cricket community as the government officially appointed him to his new responsibility on October 11 and duly issued a notification about the appointment.
Ashraf, a senior leader of the ruling PPP, is also facing a case of misuse of power while serving as chairman of the Zarai Taraqyati Bank in the Supreme Court. Ashraf maintained that he would require a month or so to understand the issues facing Pakistan cricket and the working of the Board and its present employees, after which he would be in a position to take decisions. The new PCB chairman is expected to hold a series of meetings with former greats and Board officials soon after assuming charge and is also expected to call a meeting of the governing council by next week.
