IHC orders fresh PCB elections

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to carry out fresh elections for the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board by October 18 this year. The judgement overrules all major decisions taken by the interim chairman Najam Sethi, who took over last month.

The judgement will not affect the Pakistan team currently in the West Indies for a limited-overs series. However, one of Sethi's major decisions was appointing Moin Khan as the chairman of selectors, but as per the court's ruling, Moin's appointment stands cancelled.

"Practically, Najam Sethi is no more the acting chairman, rather his status is of a caretaker being appointed by the court for a period of 90 days with the objective of looking into the day-to-day affairs of the PCB, cooperate and ensure the holding of elections by the Election Commission of Pakistan within the stipulated period commencing from July 21 to October 18, which period shall not be extended on any pretext whatsoever," Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui wrote in his judgement.

The judgement will affect the PCB's daily affairs, as well as its budget this year, selection of its Under-23 teams and that of the national team's Zimbabwe tour and the renewal of the broadcaster deal. The PCB, in general, has been seized and will remain so till the newly elected chairman takes office. The PCB, being an autonomous body, isn't regulated by the government, and engaging the ECP for electing the PCB chairman is a complex scenario to carry out.

In response, the PCB has said it will contemplate appealing the judgement. "The PCB hasn't yet received the official copy of the judgement of the Honourable Islamabad High Court," PCB legal advisor Taffazul Rizvi told ESPNcricinfo. "We are still waiting for it but in light of media reports the decision may have far-reaching consequences for Pakistan cricket as it has the potential of being misinterpreted. Some of the findings in the judgement as reported were neither argued nor raised in the pleading of the parties, therefore the PCB will have no other legal option but to file an Appeal, which will be vehemently pursued."