Pakistan cricket chief Ramiz Raja has been sacked just days after the national team suffered a humiliating Test series defeat at the hands of England, according to a government notice seen by AFP Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Appointments to run the sport in the cricket-mad country are highly politicised, and responsibility lies with the prime minister and cabinet.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England wrapped up the third Test on Tuesday to hand Pakistan their first-ever 3-0 home series whitewash.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But a change had been on the cards since April, when Imran Khan -- a former national captain -- was ousted as prime minister and replaced by Shehbaz Sharif.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Raja, a member of Khan's 1992 World Cup-winning side, was appointed chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in September last year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A government notice seen by AFP said Sharif's cabinet had dismissed Raja, and the PCB would now be run by a 14-member committee headed by Najam Sethi, who has twice served as chairman.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The committee also includes Shahid Afridi and Sana Mir, former captains of the men's and women's teams.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The government notice also said the current constitution of the board has been scrapped, and one dating from 2014 revived.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The committee will have 120 days to change the constitution and elect a new chairman.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The cricket regime headed by Ramiz Raja @iramizraja is no more," Sethi tweeted Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The 2014 PCB constitution stands restored. The Management Committee will work tirelessly to revive first class cricket."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Khan came under fire for changing the PCB's constitution in 2019 -- in particular for abolishing the role of government departments and private entities in first-class cricket, leaving hundreds unemployed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In his tweet, Sethi said "thousands of cricketers will be employed again".<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The famine in cricket will come to an end," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\r\nThank you all cricket enthusiasts for welcoming change in PCB affairs. Please wish our team good luck going forward. There is a lot of work to be done and some undone!<\/p>\r\n— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) December 22, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n