|| Desk Report ||

Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Imran Khan has apparently taken the cricket-related matters in his hand, as the World Cup-winning captain announced Ehsan Mani as the new PCB chairman. This move isn’t completely unexpected though, as Khan is the patron of the cricket board, and Najam Sethi, who presided the association, resigned some days ago.

However, the Prime Minister’s announcement of Mani as the new head provoked a series of doubts, as this clearly contradicted PCB’s constitution formed in 2014. Hence, Mani will now be inducted in the Board of Governors (BOG), so that he can put forward his candidacy for the position.

The BOG consists of 10 members from various regions and departments. The allocation of members per region is divided equally, to avoid any sort of favoritism.

Hence, Mani could be appointed as the Chairman, only after the BOG vote in majority for him. In absence of members of the BOG, the election could go ahead with the present members during the time of voting. This Board’s tenure lasts for three years and a new set of members are thus inducted after a member’s term is finished.

The BOG also consists of the patron of the board, in this case, Imran Khan himself. As it goes, Mani certainly fulfills the criteria of eligibility required for a proposed candidate for Chairmanship. According to a report in Cricbuzz, the below stated terms must be fulfilled:

(a) According to section 7 of the PCB constitution which deals with the election of the chairman, these are some more details which restrict a person from holding the office of the chairman.

(b) Has been convicted for an offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced for such an offence with imprisonment of either description for a term exceeding two years for any offence under the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance, 1999(XVIII of 1999).

(c) Has been dismissed, on account of misconduct from the service of any Government, Statutory Corporation, Organization, Authority or a Body established or controlled by or under the authority of a federal or provincial government, or in which any such government has a controlling share or interest.

(d) Has been adjudged as insolvent by a competent court of law.