Lahore: Former captain Rameez Raja was on Monday unanimously elected the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a three-year term, replacing Ehsan Mani, who stepped down last month.
This is Raja’s second stint with the PCB. He served as the board’s chief executive from 2003 to 2004.
The special meeting at the National High Performance Center was chaired by the PCB Election Commissioner, Justice (Retd) Sheikh Azmat Saeed.
Raja was nominated to the post by Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is also the patron-in-chief of the board.
The 59-year-old commentator, who was part of Pakistan’s winning campaign in the 1992 World Cup, has become the fourth international cricketer to lead the PCB after Abdul Hafeez Kardar (1972–1977), Javed Burki (1994–1995) and Ejaz. Butt (2008-2011).
Raja, who played more than 250 international matches for Pakistan from 1984 to 1997 and scored 8,674 runs, will replace Mani, the country’s veteran cricket administrator.
Raja said his biggest aim is to bring back the glory days of the Pakistan men’s team, which was once a force in the international arena.
Addressing the Board of Governors (BOG) after his election, Raja said: “I am grateful to all of you for choosing me as PCB chairman and look forward to working with you to ensure that May Pakistan cricket continue to grow and grow stronger, both day and off-the-field.” “One of my main focus will be to help the Pakistan men’s cricket team present the same culture, mindset, attitude and approach that once led Pakistan. One of the largest cricket playing countries.
“As an organization, we all need to step back from the national team and provide them with the desired help and support so that they can build that brand of cricket that is loved by the fans every time they step into the field of play. If so, expect them. In 2003–04, he also served as the CEO of the board headed by Shahryar Khan.
The former opener said, “Obviously, as a former cricketer, my second priority would be to look after the welfare of our past and present cricketers.
“Sport has always been and will be about cricketers and hence, they deserve more recognition and respect than their parent institution.” – (PTI)
