Last Updated on 2 years by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: Ramiz Raja to be removed as PCB chair | PCB to announce new chair after removal of Ramiz Raja

Pakistan Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has formally initiated the process of removing Ramiz Raja as the chairman of the country’s apex cricket board. Sharif, who is also the patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has created a new 14-member management committee under the stewardship of ex-PCB chief Najam Sethi.

The group will have 120 days to change and reinstate the previous, 2014 version, of the PCB constitution and replace the current one that was brought into action in 2019.

Ramiz Raja heading PCB is no more – Sethi

“The cricket regime headed by Ramiz Raja is no more. The 2014 PCB constitution stands restored. The Management Committee will work tirelessly to revive first class cricket. Thousands of cricketers will be employed again. The famine in cricket will come to an end,” Sethi’s tweet on the latest development read.

The bringing back of the 2014 version of the PCB constitution will result in a major constitutional revamp of the board. For instance, the previous edition did not have the provision to have a chief executive officer (CEO) in the board – a post that is presently held by Faisal Hasnain. 

Restoring the previous order of action in terms of the constitution will also end up including departmental cricket under the purview of domestic cricket, something that the 2019 constitution had overruled. 

This marks an ideological shift from the vision of former PM Imran Khan, who wanted Pakistan to replicate an Anustralian model of provincial teams in domestic cricket during his tenure as the head of the government and PCB patron. 

“Constitution of a management committee to manage the affairs of PCB with full executive powers with the aim of effecting the restoration of Departmental Cricket Structure and other allied matters, including the nomination of a Board of Governors and election of chairman, as stipulated in the 2014 constitution, within a timeframe of 120 days. The management committee of PCB shall comprise of the Chairman/Chief Executive & required members,” an official notification from PM Sharif’s office read. 

This will be first checked by the Law and Justice department before being presented in front of the Union Cabinet. Apparently, a sword had been hanging over Raja’s head ever since Sharif took over from Imran Khan as the country PM after a major political turmoil in April this year. 

However, Pakistan’s recent 0-3 whitewash in the home Tests against England meant that Sethi along with other members of the proposed management committee began making their moves in the political circles in Islamabad. A PCB chief is usually appointed upon the election of a new government in Pakistan.

Sethi had headed the PCB in different capacities from 2013-18. He had resigned from his post after Imran Khan got elected as the PM of Pakistan back in 2018. Former Pakistani skippers Shahid Afridi and Sana Mir are also speculated to be a part of the new management committee.