File photo of Zaka Ashraf.© X (formerly Twitter)
In big blow to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), its chairman Zaka Ashraf has stepped down from his role. Ashraf announced his decision to step down after chairing a managing committee meeting in Lahore on Friday. He has taken the PCB chief role from Najam Sethi in June last year. During the committee meeting chaired by Ashraf, he also thanked PCB members and Patron Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar for supporting him during his short tenure.
“At the end of the meeting, Mr Zaka Ashraf announced that he had decided to tender his resignation as chairman and member of the MC to the honourable Patron Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar. In his concluding remarks, Mr Zaka Ashraf, thanked the honourable Patron PCB for the confidence and trust reposed by him and extended his best wishes and prayers for the betterment of Pakistan and Pakistan cricket,” PCB said in a statement quoting the former chief.
Meanwhile, a report carried by Geo News had the statement of Ashraf which indicated the reason the ex-chairman decided to quit.
“I was working for the betterment of cricket but it is not possible for us to work in this way,” said Ashraf chief as quoted by the news organisation.
“Now it is up to Prime Minister [Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar], whomever he nominates [will take my place],” he added.
The news of Zaka Ashraf’s resignation comes a day after Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn and Andrew Puttick quit their respective positions at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore.
Notably, Pakistan failed to accomplish any big crown since Zaka Ashraf’s appointment last year. The team failed to reach for the Asia Cup final and was later knocked out from the league stages in the ODI World Cup in India.
Following the World Cup debacle, Babar Azam stepped down from the captaincy and was succeeded by Shan Masood (Test) and Shaheen Afridi (T20I).
Former captain Mohammad Hafeez was appointed as the Pakistan team director.
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