Litigation between Sethi, Ashraf has harmed PCB, cricket in Pak: SC

The Pakistani Supreme Court observed on Monday that the proceedings between two former chairmen of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Najam Sethi and Muhammad Zaka Ashraf had caused immense harm to the board and cricket at the domestic and international level.

Justice Mian Saqib Nisar in a strongly worded 23-page verdict said that the individuals might have gained or suffered but it is the PCB which has been impaired excessively in all respects.

The 23-page verdict elucidated reasons why a two-judge Supreme Court bench had on July 21 ordered the government to appoint an acting chairman and a chief election commissioner to hold a fresh election of the PCB, The Dawn reported.

Sethi was then allowed to hold the post of PCB chairman by the court till the election.

The judgment was issued on an appeal moved by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), which oversee sports activities in the country, against the May 17 Islamabad High Court verdict reinstating Ashraf as PCB chairman.

Justice Nisar observed that the people of Pakistan had great passion for cricket and earnestly desired and wanted to see the PCB emerging as a strong, independent, democratic and accountable institution.

But the smooth functioning of the PCB was seriously hampered with the litigation between the two former chiefs, the judgment said.

Justice Nisar said that the institution has been in doldrums and hiccups since the time of commencement of this litigation.