Zaka Ashraf has resigned as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman and is no more in the frame to become the chief, according to Geo News. Ashraf succeeded Najam Sethi as the chairman of the PCB on July 6th, 2023, but has stepped down from his role.
"I was working for the betterment of cricket but it is not possible for us to work in this way. Now it is up to Prime Minister [Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar], whomever he nominates [will take my place]," he said at the committee meeting, as quoted by Geo News.
A PCB statement said the below:
"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."
Caretaker or PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar had prolonged the Ashraf-led management committee in November 2023. The 71-year-old's tenure had been a controversial one, headlined by the 'Dushman Mulk' statement against India ahead of the 2023 World Cup and the 'whatsapp chat leak' case involving Babar Azam during the tournament.
Pakistan played 2 major competitions during Zaka Ashraf's tenure:
Pakistan, meanwhile, featured in 2 different competitions during Ashraf's tenure - the Asia Cup and the 2023 World Cup. However, the Men in Green delivered a disappointing performance in both, resulting in their elimination in the group stages.
After the World Cup, Pakistan were blanked 3-0 by Australia in the Test series and have lost the first 4 matches of the five-game T20I series in New Zealand.
