Elected unopposed, Ehsan Mani is all set to lead the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) with fresh ideas as its new chairman…
There seem to be chants regarding a wave of change taking over Pakistan following the 2018 General Elections – and it has now hit the country’s cricketing body as well. As expected, the former PCB Chairman, Najam Sethi, resigned from his position following the election of the new Prime Minister, Imran Khan. Ehsan Mani was then nominated by the PCB patron (the Prime Minister of Pakistan). The due procedure was still followed, and Ehsan Mani was elected the new chairman PCB unopposed.
Ehsan Mani has been in the cricketing circuit for quite some time now and is known for his role as a prominent member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Ehsan Mani represented the PCB on the council from 1989 to 1996. In 1996, he was then elected as the Chairman of the ICC Finance and Marketing Committee by the member nations. Mani served in this position until 2002, when it was dissolved altogether.
Mr. Ehsan Mani has been elected Chairman PCB by the Board of Governors (BoG.) Mr. Mani was elected unopposed in the BoG meeting convened at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore today for a period of three years. pic.twitter.com/Bd893OwN1L
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 4, 2018
In the Cricket World Cup tournaments of 1996 and 1999, he was also a part of the Advisory Committee as PCB’s representative. Ehsan Mani later assumed the position of the Vice President of the ICC Executive Board in 2002. He also served in a number of other committees during his administrative career.
The highlight of Mani’s career, however, was his appointment as the President of the International Cricket Council in 2003. He stepped down from the position in 2006 – but it was under his tenure that women’s cricket was finally integrated with men’s. Without a doubt, Ehsan Mani has vast knowledge and experience to bring to the table.
Ehsan Mani did wonders for ICC as its President. He was also a key figure in World Cup 1996 and World T20 2007. Under his tenure, women's cricket was integrated with men's.
But first thing he needs to do as PCB chairman is to look at Misbah and Imran Farhat's Twitter timelines.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) September 4, 2018
The new chairman took charge right after his election and he is on his feet already. Apart from vowing to push Pakistan’s case against India in the ICC dispute committee, he also has some plans for the cricket board. He aims to make the PCB ‘’more transparent and more accountable’’ in its inner workings. Ehsan Mani has already dissolved all the committees formed during the previous tenure, citing a conflict of interest – and also feels there is a need to decentralize the board.
Mani wishes to introduce a corporate structure in the board, along with an increase in powers for the PCB COO. There are plans to add a CEO to the board as well, while the chairman himself will be given lesser powers. The CEO, COO, and other board members will now be expected to take most of the decisions.
We asked, you voted!https://t.co/DAe1PFdUSR #EhsanMani pic.twitter.com/PbB8gqv6aF
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 4, 2018
Ramiz Raja, commentator and a part of Pakistan’s World Cup winning squad in 1992, has expressed his confidence in Ehsan Mani. The population at large also seems to like the new chairman and will be hoping to see some positive changes in Pakistan cricket under Mani’s tenure.
We certainly hope he can live up to everyone’s expectations and prove to be the right man for this job. It’s time for him to do wonders for Pakistan cricket – just as he did for ICC as its president.