NEW_SETUP_IN_PAK_CRICKET_20MAR95

New cricket board setup announced - Samiul Hasan

KARACHI, March 20: President Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari tonight announced the new BCCP setup with the appointments of a Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Treasurer exercising the powers vested in him under Articles 5, 6 and 7 of the Constitution of the BCCP.

According to a Presidential announcement, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah Bokhari has been appointed Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mr Arif Ali Khan Abbasi Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Salman Taseer Treasurer. In addition to this, the President has also appointed Javed Burki as his adviser on cricket affairs.

The notification further states that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), with its modified name, will resume its duties with immediate effect.

The Board has been revived after 432 days of its supersession on Jan 12, 1994 when it was headed by Dr Nasim Hasan Shah, former Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah Bokhari, former Senator from Jhang and ambassador to Spain, is a graduate of Atchison College, Lahore. He had also played cricket for the college. This means that the Chairman has a cricket background which will certainly help him in restoring the affairs of the trouble-hit Pakistan cricket team besides lifting the game in totality.

Arif Ali Khan Abbasi is not a knew person in cricket administration. Abbasi held the office of Secretary, previous designation of CEO, twice. He first held the post between 1980 and 1984 in Air Marshal (retd) Nur Khan's Board. He again came into reckoning in 1988 when Lt Gen (retd) Zahid Ali Akbar headed the BCCP. Abbasi, however, resigned in April 1991 though his resignation was unanimously disapproved by the Council, the higher tier body of the BCCP.

Arif Abbasi was later appointed Treasurer of the BCCP between 1991 and 1994.

Salman Taseer is a member of the Central Executive of the ruling People's Party and an active party man.

The newly formed Pakistan Cricket Board is expected to meet later this week or early next week to decide its future line of action.

However, since President Leghari has shown faith and confidence in the Ad hoc Committee, as evident that two of the committee members are in the PCB, it is expected that the policies made by the Ad hoc Committee will be followed by the PCB in toto.

The policies expected to be followed by the PCB include Salim Malik's case, progress of World Cup plans, appointment of Khalid 'Billy' Ibadullah as junior team manager till next year etc.

According to the new constitution, which has been approved by President Leghari, the Pakistan Cricket Board will be run on the same lines as other boards operate.

The Chairman will conduct the meetings of the PCB while the Treasurer will look after the audit and accounts of the board. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be the man who will be running the Board. He will be in direct contact with other boards and the ICC. The CEO will also be discussing and planning future commitments of the Pakistan cricket team which he will formally put before the PCB and its Council for approval.

The term of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials will be of three years though the Patron enjoys powers to supersede the Board if he foresees any irregularity, an option that he exercised when President Leghari ousted Dr Nasim Hasan Shah's board.

Source :: DAWN wire service