PCB keen on getting Rameez as chief operating officer

Lahore: Former captain Rameez Raja has emerged as the front-runner for the position of chief operating officer in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Official sources in the board confirmed that new chairman; Zaka Ashraf has already made an offer to Rameez to take over as COO. "Rameez is Zaka Ashraf`s first choice and he has already discussed terms and conditions of the COO position with the former test captain," a source said. Rameez, after retiring from cricket, stepped into the media world becoming a respected commentator, expert and host in Pakistan and abroad. He is presently working as a commentator in the ongoing Pakistan-Sri Lanka series. "The new chairman is willing to offer Rameez a very lucrative package that will compensate the former test captain for ending his media assignments and contracts if he takes over as COO," the source said. Rameez has also worked before as the chief executive of the board in 2003-2004 when Tauqir Zia and Sharharyar Khan were heading the board. The source said that Ashraf was keen on appointing Rameez because of his strong educational and professional background combined with his cricket expertise. "Ashraf is confident that Rameez is the right man for the COO`s position because of his links abroad and his strong educational and cricketing background. He also wants him because he believes that Rameez can use his contacts to convince teams to resume touring Pakistan again," the source stated. The source said that if Rameez accepts the PCB offer, then the present COO Subhan Ahmad will take over as head of international cricket affairs. "Ashraf basically wants two of the best men working on a plan to bring back international cricket to Pakistan," he said. PTI