Zaka Ashraf Steps Down As Chairman Of Pakistan Cricket Board Management Committee

On Friday, January 19, Zaka Ashraf resigned from his position as the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee.

Zaka Ashraf, who had served as the Chairperson of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee, announced his resignation on January 19. A member of the PCB's Board of Governors since July 6, 2023, Ashraf assumed the role of chairperson after replacing Najam Sethi. His resignation was tendered during a management committee meeting at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, where he submitted it to the Patron Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, as per a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) statement.

Ashraf called for an immediate meeting of the 10-member management committee in Lahore on January 19 (Friday), where he declared his resignation. “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,” reads the statement released by the PCB on their official website.

Pakistan's Dismal Performance Under Ashraf's Tenure

During Ashraf's tenure, the Pakistan men's team experienced subpar performances. The team failed to advance beyond the group stage at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India and could not progress beyond the Super Four stage in the Asia Cup held in Sri Lanka before.

Following the World Cup 2023, Babar Azam resigned as the captain in all formats. In response, Ashraf summoned team director Mickey Arthur and coach Grant Bradburn to report to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Eventually, both foreign coaches resigned from their positions.

Under the leadership of new Test captain Shan Masood, Pakistan suffered a 3-0 defeat to Australia.Currently, the Men In Green are in New Zealand, participating in a five-match T20I series against the host nation under the captaincy of Shaheen Afridi. They have faced comprehensive defeats in the first four matches and find themselves trailing 4-0. The last match of the series is scheduled to be played on January 21 (Sunday).