He Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been embroiled in a legal storm days after naming former Pakistan cricket team coach and legendary fast bowler Waqar Younis as advisor to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The PCB is now facing a legal battle over the signing of Waqar. According to Cricket Pakistan, a Pakistani national named Mashkoor Hussain has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court against the PCB’s recent move.
Waqar Younis’ new role at PCB faces legal challenges
Hussain, represented by lawyer Nadeem Sarwar, has questioned the legitimacy of Younis’ appointment as PCB adviser, raising questions about the board’s decision-making process. The petition, which names the federal government, the PCB and Younis himself as respondents, raises significant allegations about the legitimacy of the latest appointment.
The reason for this controversial petition is that the PCB did not follow protocols in appointing Waqar as Naqvi’s advisor. The petition claimed that the PCB had not followed procedure by not advertising the advisor’s post in newspapers and described Waqar’s appointment as illegal.
The petition also alleged irregularities in the appointments of Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie as Pakistan cricket teamThe white-ball and red-ball coaches respectively suggest a pattern of procedural lapses in reference to the latest PCB appointment.
In a bid to address the growing backlash, the PCB attempted to rectify the error by advertising the post of Cricket Affairs Adviser on its website on August 3, inviting applications till August 19, 2024.
The move comes after Naqvi’s announcement of the National Champions Cup and Younis’ new advisory role on August 5, which only exaggerated the scrutiny and public uproar.
Mohsin Naqvi forms new six-member advisory board headed by Waqar Younis
The court challenge has brought to light the inner workings of the PCB, which has cast doubt on the transparency of its decision-making processes. As the Lahore High Court prepares to hear the matter, fans are awaiting the court’s ruling on whether Younis’ role will be upheld.
Earlier, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi introduced a new six-member advisory board, with cricket icon Waqar at the helm. This strategic move is aimed at addressing allegations of favouritism within the Pakistan cricket team.
Younis has been tasked with assembling a team of cricket legends to serve on the board. The panel’s primary mission is to improve the performance of the Pakistan team on the world stage.
Younis stressed the urgency of this initiative and said that without the proactive involvement of former players, Pakistan cricket risks serious setbacks. He also stressed the importance of maintaining high standards to ensure the team’s success at the highest level.
Pakistan is currently preparing for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. The first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played in Rawalpindi from August 21, followed by the second and final Test in Karachi from August 30.
