Najam Sethi is in a hurry to don the hat of Pakistan Cricket Board’s chairman for one more time, this time he wishes for a longer period.
Why he shouldn’t be keen to sit on the seat for where he was unseated by Islamabad high court in 2014.
That started a musical chair on PCB chairmanship with Zaka Ashraf. It made Pakistan cricket a laughing stock and it all ended when Sethi had to compromise and gave an undertaking to the court that he will not contest the 2014 election for PCB chairman.
Under the new PCB constitution the prime minister, patron of the Board after president of Pakistan’s powers were handed to PM under the 18thamendment, appointed two members in the 10-man Board of Governors (BOG). Sethi was one of them and the other was Shaharyar.
Then the BOG elected the new chairman within itself and since no nomination came, Shaharyar Khan was elected as PCB chairman unopposed.
While Sethi has started to play his shots, appointing his blue-eyed Haroon Rasheed as director cricket operations and lobbying for new members of the Governing Board, there seems to be many slips between the cup and the lip
But Sethi, as head of the PCB Executive Committee, had his clout. Although his position was only advisory yet Sethi had his influence and no major decision could be taken with his involvement.
Now with the resignation of the incumbent chairman Shaharyar Khan, Sethi is the most favourite to take over and his three year agonizing wait seems to be over.
While Sethi has started to play his shots, appointing his blue-eyed Haroon Rasheed as director cricket operations and lobbying for new members of the Governing Board, there seems to be many slips between the cup and the lip.
Former PCB head Zaka Ashraf, Sethi’s nemesis of that famous musical chair, is getting legal advice on how to challenge the new election.
The verdict on Panama Case will also be decisive in Sethi’s take over because of his direct affiliation with PM and in turn his appointment.
If Sharif is unscathed in Panama Case, Sethi will also be safe. He will once again be one of the two appointees of the PM in the BOG and is likely to be elected unopposed.
Haroon, Not again
Some people have that tact to survive, even in mediocrity. Haroon Rasheed is one of them. No matter how many times he is replaced, Haroon has the tact to stage a comeback.
Some people have that tact to survive, even in mediocrity. Haroon Rasheed is one of them. No matter how many times he is replaced, Haroon has the tact to stage a comeback
But he is not the only one who has made umpteen returns on various posts. He has a competition in that with another man, Intikhab Alam. Both are the permanent employees of Pakistan Cricket Board, even in the days of BCCP, as if they are indispensible.
Just under a year Haroon was unceremoniously sacked as chief selector. PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan was on record saying there will be no more post for Haroon.
In fact Shaharyar thwarted every attempt from Sethi to re-hire Haroon. But with his exit imminent, he finally bowed down and after a process of application and interview signed Haroon’s appointment.
Haroon had also worked as director game development, team manager and coach. His thorough paper work, filing the files, no opposition to bosses and maneuverings always helped his cause.
But a highly ambitious plan to change the first-class structure with departments abolished did not see the light of the day. That forced Haroon to switch to selection committee as its head.
Here too he made compromises and did not object to Azhar Ali’s appointment as ODI captain after the 2015 World Cup saw Misbah retiring from limited over cricket.
Haroon’s first selected team was thrashed 3-0 in Bangladesh. Haroon also had tussle with then head coach Waqar Younis. While Waqar wanted to inject fresh blood, Haroon keep going back to tested and tried players.
It was Haroon who ultimately gave Younis Khan a chance in the ODI series against England and the fiasco ended with the senior batsman retiring abruptly after the first match.
Haroon’s tenure ended in sacking.