PCB to file 'intra-court' appeal against IHC judgement setting aside Ashraf as chairman

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that it would be filing an appeal against the judgement of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), which has set aside the election of Mohammad Zaka Ashraf as board chairman.

According to the Daily Times, although the IHC had softened its stance on the eligibility rules for the elections of the PCB chairman by removing the 'graduate' and 'cricketer' conditions, but the remaining judgement covers all matters including selection, administration, finance and elections.

The report further said that the judgment also stripped the sitting PCB chairman Najam Sethi of his main powers and termed him as caretaker chairman until elections are held in 90 days time by the election commission of Pakistan.

Stating that the judgement may result in a stalemate for the board and bring to standstill the board's day-to-day functioning, a PCB spokesman said that they are filing an intra-court appeal as the judgement reflects finding on such points of law and facts and administration which were neither part of the pleading, nor were argued by any party before the court.

According to the spokesman, the judgement may result in gridlock in matters such as electoral college and criteria for selection committees, specifically team selection for the tours of Zimbabwe, Singapore and South Africa, all of which are before end October

The spokesman also added that the PCB needed to conclude arrangements for media broadcasting agreements related to its cricketing itinerary of PCB which has expired and for which tenders are required to be floated on urgent basis, failing which the board will suffer vast monetary losses.

The PCB official also said that the IHC judgement raised concerns with regard to ICC guidelines on non-intervention of government in the administrative affairs of the PCB in so far as it directed the federal government to appoint a government officer as secretary of PCB.