HC strips PCB chief of powers
Karachi: The turmoil in Pakistan cricket refuses to end with the Islamabad High Court stripping PCB’s acting Chairman Najam Sethi of all powers and authority. The Islamabad High Court, acting on a constitutional writ petition, also ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold polls for the Chairman’s position within 90 days starting on Sunday. The Court also made it mandatory that only those candidates be eligible to contest who were graduates and had either played first-class or Test cricket. The IHC, in its 30-page judgement, also passed some other strong decisions that included a directive to the Auditor General of Pakistan to carry out a complete audit of the PCB accounts for the last five years. It Court also felt that a journalist and one cricket enthusiast with considerable knowledge should be part of the national selection committee. It also made it clear that the President’s role in the country was symbolic and that authority, if any, has to be exercised by the Prime Minister. Until now the President, in his role as Chief Patron of the board, directly appointed the Chairman of the PCB and also had a major role in finalising two members of the nomination committee that shortlist candidates for the Chairman’s election. It was under this process that Zaka Ashraf was elected Chairman in May after he had been originally appointed Chairman by President Asif Zardari in October, 2011. The IHC described the election process and part IV of the constitution as deceptive and dubious device to engineer the election of Ashraf.
CAB on coach hunt
Kolkata: The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has shortlisted Debu Mitra, Ashok Malhotra and Balwinder Singh Sandhu to succeed W V Raman as the senior team coach. The CAB today made it official that Raman would not be available for the upcoming season to complete his four-year term. “Raman called up yesterday and cited family committments for his non-availability,” CAB joint secretary Subir Ganguly said. Ganguly further said that they would pick the new coach by next week with 1983 World Cup-winning member Balwinder Singh Sandhu, former Bengal captain and India cricketer Ashok Malhotra and Saurashtra coach Debu Mitra in the fray. “We will pick our new coach from among the three. Sandhu has sent his CV. Actually, we were waiting for Raman’s call and now we’ll announce the new coach by next week,” Ganguly added. Raman, incidentally, was to arrive in the city for a meeting with CAB boss Jagmohan Dalmiya but the former India opener did not turn up. Raman is all set to return to Tamil Nadu Cricket Association who had eariler made a request to the CAB to release the former left-handed batsman.