PCB chairman Najam Sethi resigns, Ehsan Mani to replace him
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi, who has a history of clashes with new prime minister and former national captain Imran Khan, has resigned from his post and been swiftly replaced by Ehsan Mani.
Mani previously represented the PCB at the International Cricket Council, cricket's governing body, as Treasurer for three years and later headed the body for another three years from 2003 to 2006.
However, Pakistani cricket enjoyed a golden period under Sethi's management, winning the ICC Champions Trophy and shooting up the global rankings to become the No.1 team in T20 internationals.
But former cricket star Khan, whose party won power in a national election last month, fell out with Sethi during the previous ballot in 2013, when Sethi was in charge of an interim provincial government and Khan accused him of rigging the vote in favour of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
"I was waiting for the new Prime Minister to take oath before submitting my resignation as PCB Chairman, which I have done today," Sethi tweeted along with a copy of his resignation sent to Kahn.
Sethi, one of Pakistan's best known journalists, angered many of Khan's supporters for writing articles about the military's alleged role in propelling Khan to power.
Sethi introduced the Pakistan Super League (PSL), based on the franchise model of the Indian Premier League and Australia's Big Bash League, and made it a huge success.
His role in reviving the fortunes of the national team drew praise, and the country's influential Dawn newspaper published an editorial last month urging Khan not to interfere with the current cricketing set-up.
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