Merit my a**e! What cricketing or administrative credentials exactly did Naseem Ashraf, Ijaz Butt and several others before them have to be given this honour… apart from being chums or buddies of the president. And what makes some of you think that merit would suffer if there is selection thru a proper vote. Why can’t these different regions select candidates (who would then make up the board) on merit (i.e an experienced not necessarily a great ex-cricketer or a good administrator who has a sharp knowledge of the game). I don’t agree that only ex-test cricketers should be made PCB Chairman but since in Pakistan the chiefs have a habit of poking their noses in every little thing, it is imperative that the chairman is someone who is not only a good administrator but also has a good grasp of the game of cricket. If he has played test cricket himself it should be considered an added bonus. In England for instance the ECB Chairman does not directly get involved in the business of appointing captains or selecting teams for various series although I am sure his advice/views are sought. That role is handled mainly by the chairman of selectors…and quite rightly too. We certainly don’t want to see another Lt. Gen (retd.) Safdar Butt (PCB Chairman during Zia’s time) who asked Qadir once, “Why do you bowl from such a short run-up? Why can’t you run like the others?” Trust me I read this in the papers.
This is how they do it in England
ECB calls for chairman nominations - Media Releases - About ECB - ECB - ECB
ECB calls for chairman nominations
5 January 2009
The England and Wales Cricket Board has today called for nominations for the role of chairman for the period April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2011.
Candidates must be proposed by one and endorsed by two more from a group consisting of the 18 first-class counties and MCC.
Nominations will close at 12 noon on Monday, January 19, 2009.