Image Credit- PCB
As the official end of his tenure draws near, Zaka
Ashraf, the head of the PCB, is facing accusations of “flagrant misdoings
and unconstitutional decisions” from a member of his own management
committee.
At the end of this week, on November 5, the
administration led by Ashraf is scheduled to conclude its four-month term.
However, there is no guarantee that it will, even though the management
committee member’s accusations suggest that anxiety and dissatisfaction about
Ashraf’s chairmanship are at an all-time high, both inside and outside the
administration.
The claims were made by management committee member
Zulfiqar Malik in an email addressed to Ashraf and the committee. The
Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) ministry, which is in charge of sports in
Pakistan, and the Prime Minister’s Office are copied on the email. Malik has
accused Ashraf and the government of the following in his email:
Failing its legal, prescribed mandate, which was to
manage only the board’s daily affairs and not make long-term decisions
Ignoring directives from the IPC to hold board
elections so that the interim set-up finishes, and a chairman is appointed
Failing to provide his degree certificate, which is a
prerequisite for becoming a PCB chairman
Allowing his son Chaudhry Khan Mohammad to meddle
informally in board matters
Misusing the office of the PCB election commissioner
to carry out political victimisation of opponents and running rigged elections
in regions
“I have noted some flagrant misdoings and
unconstitutional decisions by management that I wish to bring on record,”
Malik writes. He says the email is an attempt “to absolve myself from the
unconstitutional decisions and wrongdoings which have taken place over the
period of time without consultation or approval of most members”.
“[But] this MC led by Mr Zaka Ashraf has not
confined itself to day to day affairs and has taken many long term decisions
which violate the mandate given to this MC,” Malik writes, going on to
cite several examples of the appointments the board has made as breaches of
this mandate.
“Turning deaf ears on IPC Ministry’s directives…
for holding Chairman election was the most serious violation that Zaka Ashraf
and this MC committed”.
In response, the PCB said, “Every decision is
taken according to the constitution.” The board also defended the nature
of its decision-making, saying, “Any and all decisions have been taken to
ensure day to day operations of the PCB continue unencumbered.”