Pakistan government appeals decision to sack chief

Islamabad: Pakistan cricket`s power struggle escalated Tuesday as the government appealed to the Supreme Court to reinstate Najam Sethi as the head of the board.

The Islamabad High Court in February had overturned an order from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to appoint Sethi and oust Zaka Ashraf as chairman. The high court`s ruling reinstated Ashraf for a second time after he was initially suspended in May last year over his dubious election. The Ministry for Inter-provincial Co-ordination, which oversees sports affairs in the country, has now asked the supreme court to annul the high court`s decision. "This appeal is against the Islamabad high court judgement which wrongfully suspended the (order) by the PM," Asma Jahangir, the government`s lawyer, told AFP. Ashraf took charge on Monday and vowed to review all the decisions made under Sethi. This means chief selector Moin Khan, head coach Waqar Younis, batting coach Grant Flower of Zimbabwe and spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed may lose their positions after being appointed earlier this month. Since taking over Ashraf has removed PCB legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi with immediate effect.