Trouble mounts for Pakistan Cricket Board as interim Chairman Zaka Ashraf steps down amid a resignation spree

In a surprising turn of events, Zaka Ashraf, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, has tendered his resignation after presiding over a managing committee meeting in Lahore on Friday. The announcement was made in an official statement released by the PCB following the meeting.

The statement read, "At the end of the meeting, Mr Zaka Ashraf announced that he had decided to tender his resignation as chairman and member of the MC to the honourable Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar."

Expressing gratitude in his concluding remarks, Ashraf thanked the honourable PCB for the trust placed in him and extended his best wishes and prayers for the betterment of Pakistan and Pakistan cricket. Zaka Ashraf, who previously served as the head of the PCB from 2011 to 2013, assumed the role of chairman in July, succeeding Najam Sethi after a change in the country's political coalition. Last November, he was granted a three-month extension to continue leading the PCB's Management Committee.

Zaka Ashraf highlights Indian Board Members' Visit as Achievement

Several factors are being speculated as reasons for Ashraf's abrupt resignation. One of the notable factors is the revelation of his educational qualifications, with reports suggesting that he is not a graduate. Additionally, with his tenure set to conclude in February, it is believed that Ashraf, foreseeing the inevitable end, decided to step down prematurely.

Before his resignation, Ashraf took a moment to highlight some of his accomplishments during his recent tenure. Notably, he pointed to the successful visit of the Indian Cricket Board team led by Roger Binny. The visit during the Asia Cup in August marked a significant diplomatic and sporting development, fostering cricketing ties between India and Pakistan.

The sudden departure of Zaka Ashraf raises questions about the future direction of the PCB and the appointment of a new chairman. As the cricketing community and fans digest this unexpected development, attention will undoubtedly turn to the next steps for Pakistan cricket under new leadership.