PCB to nominate Najam Sethi as next ICC President

Former PCB chairman Najam Sethi is set to be nominated as the next President of the International Cricket Council by the Pakistan board for a one-year term starting in June, 2015.

The PCB Board of Governors at its last meeting, recently, had formed a committee to recommend names for nomination for the post of ICC President.

"The formation of the committee is just an eyewash because Sethi's nomination was discussed in detail at the BOG meeting and he also expressed interest in the position if the prime minister gave clearance for his name," a well-informed source told PTI.

Under the new governing rules of the ICC, member boards will nominate their candidates for the post of ICC President on rotation basis and for the term starting June, 2015 it is Pakistan's turn to send its nominee for the largely ceremonial post.

"It is a ceremonial post but there is lot of prestige involved with it and also a lot of travelling and perks. And the BOG members that Sethi is best suited to argue Pakistan's case for resumption of international cricket in the country as ICC President," the source added. 

Another source said after the BOG meeting the PCB had forwarded only the name of Sethi to the prime minister who is also chief patron of the board.

"The Prime Minister on Tuesday gave clearance for Sethi to be nominated as ICC President," he said. 

The source said the one caveat to becoming ICC President was that Sethi would have to vacate his position on the governing board. 

Sethi a seasoned journalist who has a popular political talk show on Geo News channel has also remained caretaker chief minister of Punjab during the last general elections and was nominated as PCB chairman in 2013 by PM Nawaz Sharif. 

Image: Najam Sethi, former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board is pictured during the ICC Board Meeting in Dubai.

Photo: Francois Nel/Getty Images