PCB has been beset with internal rivalries and corruption, says Najam Sethi 

Sethi resigned from his post recently after Imran Khan's oath taking ceremony as Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Najam Sethi | Getty

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Sethi has declined allegations that have been raised about phone tapping of board officials during his tenure as chief. In the wake of a political change in the country after Imran Khan being elected as the newest Prime Minister of Pakistan, Sethi resigned from his post because of previous ideology issues with Khan. 

In an interview given to PakPassion.net, Sethi has said that the board has been badly affected by internal opinionated rivalries and corruption and people who are spreading such lies are not disciplined and sincere with the game's governing body in the country. 

“It looks to me that those who were indulging in such activities spread this lie about phones being tapped. What this points to is a tragedy which is that the PCB has been beset with internal rivalries and corruption,” Sethi was quoted saying, “This has eroded the organisation and I have had to fend off such lies and propaganda which has been originating from within the organisation.”

“The facts are that there was a lot of leaking of PCB’s internal affairs due to rivalries inside the establishment and information which was false was being given out to undermine each other." he further added, "I sent out a note saying, please do not do this and if we find out who is leaking information which is damaging PCB, then we will take action against those persons.”

Sethi, who resigned soon after Imran Khan's oath-taking ceremony, further went on to say that even though constitutionally, the PM has the right to decide who'll be the caretakers of the PCB, it is crucial for cricket in the country that government supports the board. 

“Realistically speaking, if the Patron of Pakistan cricket does not like the Chairman then there is a problem as he represents a powerful state institution and the fact is that the PCB cannot function when the government is against it,” Sethi said. 

“Even though I had two more years to go before the end of my term and technically the Patron could not remove me without removing the whole board, I decided to step aside for two reasons. The first point being that if the Patron does not want me, there is no point hanging around as it will hurt and destroy the PCB and you don’t want to do that." he added pointing the reasons why he left his post, "The second point is that this is a Patron who has a vision for Pakistan cricket and one who is a legend in his own right and whether one agrees or not, he must be given an opportunity to take charge. He is a very special Patron of the PCB and there is a lot of public support for his views and knowledge.”

(Inputs from tribune.com.pk)

 
 

By Kashish Chadha - 27 Aug, 2018

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