MUHAMMAD SALEEM

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain and leading commentator Ramiz Raja was elected unanimously and unopposed as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s 36th chairman for a three-year term.

Ramiz was elected in a special meeting of the PCB Board of Governors chaired by the PCB Election Commissioner, former Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed.

It may be noted that Ramiz Raja and Asad Ali Khan were nominated by the PCB Patron, Prime Minister Imran Khan, on the PCB Board of Governors on 27th August for a three-year term, where they joined Aasim Wajid Jawad, Alia Zafar, Arif Saeed, Javed Kurieshi (all independent members) and Wasim Khan (PCB Chief Executive).

Ramiz who previously served the PCB as its Chief Executive from 2003-2004, has represented Pakistan on the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and presently sits on the MCC World Cricket Committee.

After his election as PCB chairman, Ramiz termed his elevation as challenging but vowed to take the game to new height setting some long-term and some short term goals.

Praising former head coach Misbahul Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis for working hard with honesty, he said that a complete overhaul of the system was needed on multiple tiers. “I always thought that if I got the chance [to serve] at this position, I would reset the vision a bit. I think cricket’s compass and direction need to be reset. There are some long term and some short term goals,” he said.

Regarding the state of the Pakistan cricket team, Raja said he had held talks with its members and acknowledged that it had an unpredictable element that made it more attractive. However, he stressed, that unless there was a describable model, there will be confusion and there won’t be job clarity so you will keep wandering in the dark.