Ashraf’s resignation rejected

Nasim Ashraf, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, will stay in the role after his resignation was rejected by President Pervez Musharraf. Dr. Ashraf had sent a fax on March 19th offering to resign, following Pakistan’s elimination from the World Cup at the hands of Ireland.

Aamir Bilal, a PCB media advisor, said today: “President Pervez Musharraf rejected the resignation of Nasim Ashraf today, and directed him to continue his duty to rebuild the Pakistan cricket team on modern and professional lines.”

Dr. Ashraf thanked the President for his support and confidence, and said “I will continue to endeavour my best for the development and progress of cricket in Pakistan. I promise a revamp: a transparent cricket set-up and will implement short- and long-term action plans immediately. They will be shared with the public through the media in a press conference to be held at Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday afternoon.”

Dr. Ashraf has only been in charge of the PCB for five months, having taken over after Shaharyar Khan’s resignation in the wake of the captaincy scandal just prior to the Champions Trophy of October 2006.