PCB faces legal turmoil over Waqar Younis' appointment as advisor: Report

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has found itself in a legal storm days after appointing the former Pakistan cricket team coach and legendary fast bowler Waqar Younis as an advisor to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

The PCB is now facing a legal battle for hiring Waqar. According to Cricket Pakistan, a Pakistani citizen named Mashkoor Hussain has filed a petition in the Lahore High Court against the PCB’s recent move.

Waqar Younis’ new role at PCB faces legal challenges

Hussain, represented by attorney Nadeem Sarwar, has challenged the legitimacy of Younis's appointment as the PCB advisor, raising questions over the board’s decision-making process. The petition, which names the federal government, the PCB, and Younis himself as respondents, raises significant allegations about the latest appointment's legitimacy.

The reason behind this controversial petition is that the PCB didn’t follow the protocols while appointing Waqar as Naqvi’s advisor. The petition claimed that the PCB failed to follow the procedure by not advertising the advisor position in newspapers, describing Waqar’s appointment as unlawful.

The petition also claimed the irregularities in appointments of Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie as the Pakistan cricket team’s white-ball and red-ball coaches, respectively, suggesting a pattern of procedural lapses as their reference to the latest appointment at the PCB.

In a bid to address the growing backlash, the PCB attempted to correct the mistake by advertising the role of Advisor-Cricket Affairs on its website on August 3rd, inviting applications until August 19, 2024.

This move comes after Naqvi's announcement of the Domestic Champions Cup and Younis’s new advisory role on August 5, which only exaggerated scrutiny and public uproar.

Mohsin Naqvi forms a new six-member advisory board headed by Waqar Younis

The legal challenge has brought the PCB’s internal workings into the limelight, casting doubts over the transparency of its decision-making processes. As the Lahore High Court prepares to hear on this matter, the fans are awaiting the court’s judgment on whether Younis's role will be upheld.

Earlier, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi unveiled a new six-member advisory board, with cricketing icon Waqar at its helm. This strategic move aims to tackle allegations of favoritism within the Pakistan cricket team.

Younis has been tasked with assembling a team of cricketing legends to serve on the board. The panel’s core mission is to enhance the Pakistan team's performance on the global stage.

Younis emphasized the urgency of this initiative, stating that without the proactive involvement of former players, Pakistan cricket risks facing severe setbacks. He also highlighted the importance of upholding high standards to ensure the team’s success at the highest level.

Pakistan is currently preparing for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. The first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played in Rawalpindi from August 21 followed by the second and last Test in Karachi from August 30.