ISLAMABAD - Zaka Ashraf’s restoration is likely to be very short-lived, as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Patron Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is all set to disband the PCB today (Monday), highly placed sources confirmed to this scribe on condition of anonymity.
The sources revealed that Shakil Sheikh’s resignation from PCB Governing Board and his hurriedly called press conference late Sunday night was a well-written script to pave way for this development. The sources further said Shakil just made formal announcement of his resignation and sent his resignation to Patron instead of PCB chairman as per PCB Constitution.
In the past, when Zaka was restored by Islamabad High Court, Shakil, instead of resigning, had opted to stay away from attending board meetings. Shakil’s resignation was the need of the hour to make number game in government’s favour otherwise the PM could not have used his constitutional powers to disband the Zaka-led PCB hierarchy. With Shakil’s resign the required quorum for convening a meeting of the governing board could not be achieved as at least three members of are required to convene a meeting.
The sources confirmed the notification had come from the PM House on Sunday but to make things smooth and transparent it was decided to defer the notification for a day. The sources said according to SRO issued earlier by the PCB Patron, 30-day time was given to file objections, complaints but no one during that period filed any complaints and instead few persons on the behest of Zaka decided to once again seek relief from Islamabad High Court as more than 30 cases were filed against PCB Patron and not against Interim Committee chairman Najam Sethi.