Former ICC President Ehsan Mani becomes the new chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after Najam Sethi resigned from that post. Mani is keen to restart India-Pakistan cricket series to make Asian cricket stronger.
The big change in Pakistan cricket has happened in just a few days after the former World Cup-winning Pakistan captain Imran Khan took the oath as Prime Minister.
Sethi had become the PCB chairman in 2014. He played a major role to restart the international cricket on the Pakistan soil. Since the March 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus at Lahore, there were no international cricket matches had been organised in Pakistan till April 2015. Since May 2015, a total of 12 international cricket matches have been organised in Pakistan.
However, Sethi had a poor relationship with Imran Khan since 2013 when he served as a caretaker chief minister of Punjab province.
On Monday, Sethi resigned from the PCB chairman post by writing a letter to the new PM. In his official Twitter account, Sethi shared that letter and wrote, “I was waiting for the new Prime Minister to take oath before submitting my resignation as PCB Chairman, which I have done today. I wish PCB all the best and hope our cricket team goes from strength to strength. Eid Mubarak. Pakistan Zindabad.”
I was waiting for the new Prime Minister to take oath before submitting my resignation as PCB Chairman, which I have done today. I wish PCB all the best and hope our cricket team goes from strength to strength. Eid Mubarak. Pakistan Zindabad. pic.twitter.com/uiIVoiRAtq
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) August 20, 2018
Meanwhile, the new PM Imran Khan confirmed the news to appoint Mani as the new PCB chairman through his official Twitter account.
Khan wrote on it, “I have appointed Ehsan Mani as Chairman PCB. He brings vast and valuable experience to the job. He represented PCB in the ICC; was Treasurer ICC for 3 yrs and then headed the ICC for another 3 yrs.”
I have appointed Ehsan Mani as Chairman PCB. He brings vast and valuable experience to the job. He represented PCB in the ICC; was Treasurer ICC for 3 yrs and then headed the ICC for another 3 yrs.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 20, 2018
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Later, Khan tweeted, “We will follow the set procedure which entails my nominating him on the PCB Board of Governors. He may then contest elections for the position of Chairman PCB.”
We will follow the set procedure which entails my nominating him on the PCB Board of Governors. He may then contest elections for the position of Chairman PCB. https://t.co/kYZOnnMUFg
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 20, 2018
Mani was ICC President from 2003 to 2006. After taking the new role, Mani has pointed out to restart the India-Pakistan international cricket clash is his one of the major targets.
On Monday, Mani told The Indian Express, “It’s still early days. My intention is to make Asian cricket stronger again, as it used to be. I don’t want to go into any detail at this stage but obviously, cricket between Pakistan and India is important to world cricket. So, that is one thing we will have to sit down, consider and address. Fortunately, we have a Prime Minister who is very, very keen on that.”
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The new Pakistan PM Imran Khan has also given importance to improve the relationship between India and Pakistan through the cricket.
Khan told to media, “We don’t want to be enemies forever. You have to think about the future. There are mutual cricketing heroes in both our countries. Like Wasim Akram is adored and loved in India, Sachin Tendulkar is a hero in Pakistan.”
