Caretaker government puts PCB under direct control of PM Office

The affairs of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have been transferred to the direct control of the Cabinet Division by caretaker Primer Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar on Monday, February 19. The strategic administrative shift comes after the recent issues between the cricket governing body and the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) came to light.

"Prime Minster in terms of rule 3 of the rules of Business 1973, has been pleased to transfer the administrative control of PCB to from IPC to Cabinet Division. Therefore, the PCB stands transferred to Cabinet Division," read a notification issued on Monday.

As per the notification, PCB will no longer be answerable to the IPC ministry and will work directly under the Prime Minister Office. It is also important to note that the secretary of the IPC ministry will no longer hold a position on the PCB's Board of Governors.

PCB’s interim management committee chairman Zaka Ashraf had his differences with the IPC ministry over several issues during his tenure before the board got its first elected chairman in 14 months in Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi earlier this month.

PCB, which remains an autonomous body, generates its funds from its own resources. It also operates under its own constitution. However, after the devolution of the sports ministry following the 18th amendment to the Constitution of the country to provinces, the government put the PCB under IPC for coordination with the federal government.

IPC ministry had the primary role of being a bridge between the PCB and the federal government and coordinates during the various standing committees, providing reply on behalf of the PCB to the parliament and its committees.

According to a report from the Dawn, instead of the IPC secretary, a Cabinet Division secretary will now be made a member of the Board of Governors. PCB is currently hosting its premier franchise tournament, Pakistan Super League (PSL). The ninth edition of the cash-rich league got underway on Saturday, February 17.

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