'Reinstatement a victory of justice' - Ashraf

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf has stated his reinstatement as the board chief by the Islamabad High Court was a "historic decision" calling it a "victory of justice". Ashraf replaced Najam Sethi after a long and complicated legal process.

"It is a historic decision for Pakistan cricket that a court restored a PCB chief," Ashraf said in Lahore. "My reinstatement is a victory of justice and a result of prayers of several PCB employees."

Ashraf, who was suspended from the post in May last year by the same court, said he will now work towards the improvement of the state of affairs of cricket in Pakistan, and seek guidance from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on security issues for the team's participation in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

"There are a lot of challenges Pakistan cricket has been facing and my top-most priority will be to work collectively for its betterment," he said. "Being a chairman, I am under heavy load of responsibility to take on all the challenges in a decent manner and to resolve all cricket-related problems in a befitting manner. We should work for the development of the game without taking into consideration and political affiliation.

"It is my desire to brief PCB patron Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on cricket-related affairs and to seek his guidance on the team's participation in the Asia Cup in the back drop of security issues in the host country Bangladesh."

Ashraf added that the board will also start the process of hiring a new coach as Dav Whatmore, the current Pakistan coach, is nearing the end of his contract.

"The PCB's cricket committee will look into the matter of hiring a new coach for Pakistan team as Dav Whatmore will be completing his stint with the team next month," he said.