Former captain and legendary “Sultan of Swing,” Wasim Akram, has declined the chance to join the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or advisor to the Chairman, as reported by various sources. This decision comes as the cricketing world is buzzing with anticipation for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Following Akram’s refusal, Waqar Younis is now being considered for the role. Reports suggest that Mohsin Naqvi, the Interior Minister and Chairman of the PCB, has faced criticism for not focusing enough on cricket due to his dual roles.
In response, Naqvi decided it was essential to appoint a former cricketer to handle cricket affairs more effectively. He approached Akram a few days ago, offering him the CEO or advisor position. Naqvi highlighted that this would be a full-time role overseeing all cricket-related matters, particularly with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on the horizon.
Akram turned down the offer, citing his permanent residence in Karachi and frequent travels to Australia for family reasons as factors that made relocating to Lahore impractical. Despite this, Akram offered his support to Pakistan cricket without compensation if needed.
As a result, PCB officials have reportedly reached out to Waqar Younis, who has agreed to consider the position. Younis, who has expressed a desire to return to Lahore, has met with Naqvi to discuss the role. However, the PCB has yet to make an official announcement regarding his appointment.
It’s worth noting that both Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were scrutinized in the Justice Qayyum report, one of Pakistan’s most comprehensive investigations into match-fixing, conducted from September 1998 to September 1999 and published in May 2000.