Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja elected new PCB chairman ‘unanimously and unopposed’

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja on Monday became the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for a tenure of three years after being elected unanimously and unopposed.

Raja, who played more than 250 international matches for Pakistan from 1984 to 1997, replaces Ehsan Mani who stepped down from his role last month. He also served as chief executive of the PCB but established his name more when he took up commentary and became the “voice of Pakistan.”

The 59-year-old Raja, whose elder brother Wasim also represented Pakistan in Test matches, is the only fourth former Pakistan international cricketer to head the cricket board. Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Javed Burki and Ijaz Butt are the others.

Mr Ramiz Raja has been elected unanimously and unopposed as Pakistan Cricket Board’s 36th Chairman for a three-year term in a Special Meeting presided over by PCB Election Commissioner, Mr Justice (retd) Sheikh Azmat Saeed.

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— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) September 13, 2021

Khan had shortlisted Raja’s name after Ehsan Mani declined to accept a short-term extension when his three-year term expired last month.

“One of my key focuses will be to help introduce in the Pakistan men’s cricket team the same culture, mindset, attitude and approach that once made Pakistan one of the most feared cricket playing nations,” Raja said in a PCB statement.

“Obviously, as a former cricketer, my other priority will be to look into the welfare of our past and present cricketers.

“The game has and will always be about the cricketers and, as such, they deserve more recognition and respect from their parent institution.”

Last week, PCB announced that head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis had stepped down from their respective roles, shortly after the announcement of Pakistan’s squad for the Twenty20 World Cup.