Ministry won't take over PCB

LAHORE - The sports ministry officials Wednesday assured the Pakistan Cricket Board that they would not challenge the autonomous status of the board and their authority would seize to exist after President Asif Ai Zardari announces the new chairman.

Talking to journalists here at the Gaddafi Stadium after a four-hour meeting with the PCB officials, sports ministry secretary Ashraf Khan said that they were not here due to the charms of the PCB and they have no intention of take over the board. PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi was also present during the press briefing.

He said that PCB was an autonomous body and the sports ministry's interference coincided due to the constitutional void created after delay in the appointment of the new chairman.