LAHORE: No discussion could be held on the reference sent by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to its independent adjudicator retired Justice Fazal-e-Miran Chohan, against Nouman Butt, one of the members of the Board of Governors, on a complaint filed by another BoG member Asad Ali Khan, levelling allegation that the former had used objectionable language against PCB chairman Ehsan Mani, besides making public official document before the media, after the last BoG meeting held in Quetta on April 17.
Nouman through his lawyer Shaigzan Ijaz has submitted his reply against the reference sent on the complaint of Asad and the adjudicator has ordered the PCB to submit its reply against Nouman’s stand by May 2. However on the day of hearing, Nouman’s lawyer expressed his inability to be part of the discussion, because the lawyer of Asad, the original complainant, was not present.
Though PCB’s lawyer Tafazzul Rizvi was present for the discussion, on the request of Nouman’s lawyer, it was deferred till May 10.
Meanwhile, Nouman lawyer’s application requesting the adjudicator to stop the hearing as the standing committee of National Assembly on Sports will also be discussing the matter on May 6, was rejected as Tafazzul successfully pleaded against it.
“We want to start the discussion in the presence of all parties’ lawyers but Asad Ali Khan’s lawyer was not present, so our request is accepted and the justice has deferred the hearing till May 10,” Shaigan said.
“We also filed [a] second application requesting to stop the hearing as the National Standing Committee on Sports is also holding a discussion on this matter in Islamabad on May 6, which was not accepted,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tafazzul said: “Nouman’s second application requesting to stop the hearing of adjudicator till the standing committee’s findings has been rejected as I argued that PCB’s constitution does not allow it.”
Tafazzul alleged that Nouman’s lawyer had been using delaying tactics, adding it seemed they were not taking the case seriously and that was why they were submitting such applications.
On April 17, the BoG meeting could last just 10 minutes because the PCB chairman wanted to get the nod of the BoG to abolish the present domestic cricket set-up featuring departments and regions to switch to a pattern based on provincial teams.
However Nouman, who had the support of five BoG members out of a total seven attending that meeting, submitted a joint resolution, asked to defer the discussion as it was a crucial point of the agenda and needed thorough discussion. The revolting members also suggested the PCB to call a special BoG meeting on April 30 so that all the members could get sufficient time to prepare for the said meeting.
After a brief spat between the revolting members and the PCB chairman, the meeting was called off. Later, first PCB chairman spoke to the media to give his stand and later Nouman also appeared before the media to clear his version.
At present, Nouman is not allowed to attend any BoG meeting till the announcement of adjudicator’s verdict. Two of the revolting BoG members, Shahrez Khan (Lahore Region) and Ayaz Butt (KRL), have reconciled with the PCB. However, Kabir Khan (Fata) and Shah Dost (Quetta region) are still with Nouman.
