International Cricket Council Presidential Race: Ex-Pakistan Board Boss Najam Sethi Withdraws
Former Pakistan Board chief Najam Sethi feels an iconic cricketer should be the president of International Cricket Council.
On Monday, former Pakistan Cricket Board chief Najam Sethi withdrew his candidature for the post of president of International Cricket Council. (India-Pakistan cricket series in December? Politics keeps fans guessing)
Sethi, a former journalist, tweeted his intention to withdraw and instead, asked PCB to consider a former Pakistan cricketer for presidency. He also communicated the same in a letter addressed to ICC chairman N. Srinivasan.
I have decided to step aside from ICC Presidency. I request PCB to nominate a great ex Test Cricketer for this position in spirit of game.
- Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) June 1, 2015
"Since the ICC announcement that from next year the post of ICC President will be open only to iconic Test cricketers nominated by member Boards, I have increasingly felt that it is only fitting that this rule should be implemented straightaway so that one of Pakistan s great iconic cricketers should be so honoured," Sethi wrote in the letter. (India v Pakistan in UAE?)
"Under the circumstances, I am withdrawing my nomination to ICC Presidency with immediate effect and requesting the Board of Governors of the Pakistan Cricket Board to nominate an great Pakistani ex-Test cricketer in my place."
Nominated by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as chief of PCB in 2013, Sethi has been a controversial figure in his country. His tenure as PCB president was marked by repeated removals and returns, only to eventually leave the post for Shahryar Khan.
Sethi's latest decision -- to withdraw from the ICC presidential candidacy -- is expected to get mixed response in Pakistan but his followers on Twitter congratulated him for what is being seen as a 'selfless' act.