Nawaz Sharif appoints Sair Ali as caretaker chief of PCB

Karachi: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has appointed a retired judge Sair Ali as caretaker chairman of the PCB while inducting former chief Shaharyar Khan on the Board of Governors here on Monday.

"Justice Sair is appointed election commissioner with immediate effect as per requirements laid down in the new PCB constitution and will hold elections of PCB chairman within the next 30 days," said a statement. Shaharyar`s induction into the Board of Governors makes him a strong candidate for PCB Chairman`s post during the election scheduled to be held within four weeks. Shaharyar headed the board from 2003 to 2006. Sharif also named the outgoing Chairman, Najam Sethi as his second nominee on the technocrats seat on the Board of Governors (BOG). The 10-member BOG which also includes four representatives each of the regions and departments affiliated with the board will elect a new Chairman within four weeks time under the new constitution of the board approved by the Supreme Court. The post of Chairman in the PCB has seen a game of musical chairs played between rivals Zaka Ashraf and Najam Sethi three times each since May last year, leading to widespread ridicule at home and abroad. But the Supreme Court after hearing several cricket related petitions including one challenging the reinstatement of Zaka Ashraf as Chairman by the Islamabad High Court ruled that a caretaker Chairman will hold elections for the top post under the new constitution. It also declared the decision of the IHC to reinstate Ashraf thrice as null and void. Interestingly, Sethi during the hearing gave in writing to the court that he would not be contesting the PCB Chairman`s seat elections ruling him out of the race.