Former Pakistan captain and renowned cricket commentator Ramiz Raja is set to become the new chairman of the country’s cricket board.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his role as patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board, nominated Raja to the governing board on Friday after Ehsan Mani declined to accept a short-term extension when his three-year term expired this week.
Khan had met with both Mani and Raja before nominating the former test opener. The patron’s nominee traditionally gets elected chairman, as Mani was three years ago.
A vote is scheduled for Sept. 13 in Lahore. The PCB’s governing board comprises eight members including its chief executive, Wasim Khan.
Khan and Raja were teammates on the 1992 World Cup squad that beat England in the final.
Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has congratulated Raja for his new role. He wants the new boss of Pakistan cricket to include Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik in the T20 World Cup squad.
“PCB Chairman should be a capable person as Ramiz Raja is but the main decision for him will be to take on people who have sincere intentions for this country and PCB, and are good quality professionals – Only such people can run an institution like PCB where capable people are appointed based on merit. With such people in place, the PCB will rise to greater heights. We have a lot of talent but it needs to be groomed,” said Afridi while speaking to the Press.
The veteran further added that team needs a lot of changes ahead of the big event.
“We tried a lot of things when it comes to team selection, where we tried out and gave chances to young players from whom we had a lot of expectations but they couldn’t perform. So, this is the last time Shoaib Malik will play in an ICC World Cup, so let’s give him chance. Both Hafeez and Malik have served this nation well in the past and it’s not as if we don’t have a need for them as I feel Pakistan needs them so let’s see what decision is taken about them for the upcoming T20 World Cup,” he added.