Najam Sethi elected new PCB chairman

KARACHI: Najam Sethi was elected unopposed as the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday.

The BoG met today at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore to elect the board's new chairman following the end of Shahryar Khan’s tenure as chairman.

Najam Sethi, also the Pakistan Super League (PSL) chairman, had emerged as a clear favourite for the post after Shahryar Khan’s tenure ended.

Addressing a press conference later, Sethi thanked the BoG for choosing him unanimously and placing their trust in him to lead the helm of affairs of cricket in the country. 

The newly elected PCB chairman vowed to fulfill his responsibilities to the best of his capabilities and said the board's next challenge is to revive international cricket in Pakistan.

About the expected World XI tour to Pakistan, Sethi said the board has had a couple of meetings with the Punjab government.

"Till now we have the green signal for the tour. Currently we are having agreements with the players who are [interested in coming here]," he said, adding that these players are current cricketers.

"All the matters will be finalized within the next seven days," Sethi said. 

Earlier Shahryar Khan congratulated Sethi on becoming the 30th chairman of the PCB.

“I congratulate Mr. Najam Sethi on his unanimous election as chairman of PCB. I am sure his experience and guidance will bring cricket in Pakistan to higher levels and will end Pakistan’s isolation in international cricket. I am especially glad that his election was held in a constitutional manner,” Shahryar Khan said in a statement.

Members of BoG were to file nomination papers at the start of the meeting, and any member could file the nomination, an official of PCB had explained while describing election rules on Tuesday.

Former captains Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja and Rashid Latif had earlier issued statements backing Sethi’s appointment as the new chairman of PCB.

The three had praised Sethi for his efforts to organise the PSL, saying that Pakistan cricket has already started enjoying fruits of the country's T20 competition.