ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) in Islamabad took a momentous decision on Tuesday, as it meticulously pondered over the fate of a contentious petition questioning the legitimacy of Mohsin Naqvi’s appointment as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman.
The petition contends that a caretaker prime minister cannot simultaneously serve and make decisions in the role of the board’s patron-in-chief. In an extraordinary hearing, the esteemed Chief Justice Aamer Farooq diligently listens to the passionate petitioner’s counsel, who passionately debates the intriguing complexities of the interim Prime Minister’s power. This comes after Mohsin Naqvi’s seemingly uncontested and meteoric rise to the position of PCB chief last month.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) in Islamabad took a momentous decision on Tuesday, as it meticulously pondered over the fate of a contentious petition questioning the legitimacy of Mohsin Naqvi’s appointment as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman. In a significant courtroom event, IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq presided over a legal battle, where a petition was brought forth to the esteemed court. The crux of the argument was that while it is indeed the prime minister’s prerogative to select the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief, there exists a crucial distinction between the powers of an elected prime minister and a temporary, caretaker one. Today’s hearing saw the petitioner’s counsel passionately assert that a caretaker prime minister should not be vested with the authority to serve as the PCB’s “patron-in-chief,” given the responsibility to appoint the PCB head.
Previously, Mohsin Naqvi, a media channel owner and former interim Chief Minister of Punjab, was unanimously chosen as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman for a three-year term. This appointment was supported by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar for the PCB’s Board of Governors. Following his selection, Naqvi expressed his commitment to addressing the challenges facing Pakistan cricket, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms in the sport. At present, Mohsin Naqvi holds the esteemed position of the 37th chairman of the cricket board, succeeding his predecessor, Zaka Ashraf. Ashraf had resigned as the chairman of the management committee in January. During Ashraf’s tenure, Pakistan participated in two significant competitions: the Asia Cup and the One Day International (ODI) World Cup. Ashraf mentioned that, despite his efforts for the betterment of cricket, the existing circumstances did not allow for effective progress.
The Pakistani cricket team, known as “Men in Green,” did not advance to the final of the continental tournament and also missed qualifying for the World Cup semi-finals. Consequently, these underwhelming results led to a series of resignations within the board, affecting individuals such as Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn, and Andr ew Puttick. Additionally, the prominent batsman Babar Azam relinquished his position as the national team captain across all three formats of the game.
