In a significant shift aimed at boosting governance within Pakistan’s cricket administration, the federal cabinet has approved a policy change allowing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to appoint retired senior bureaucrats at the BS-21 level as Election Commissioners.
This decision, finalized during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee for Legislative Cases (CCLC) on July 24, 2025, marks a notable relaxation of previously stringent eligibility requirements. Under the PCB’s 2014 constitution, the role of Election Commissioner was reserved exclusively for retired BS-22 civil servants, or current/former judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts — or those qualified for such positions. That narrow pool, according to PCB officials, has repeatedly hindered the Board’s ability to find capable and independent candidates for the position.
Why It Matters for Cricket Administration
The Election Commissioner plays a crucial role in overseeing internal elections within the PCB — a task that demands not only legal acumen but also administrative experience and impartiality. With the sport under increasing scrutiny for governance lapses, especially in the wake of Pakistan’s inconsistent international performances and internal power struggles, the move is being viewed as an attempt to professionalize and stabilize cricket management.
By including BS-21 officers—who often retire in their early sixties with decades of public administration experience—the PCB now has access to a wider and potentially more diverse talent pool.
Legal Backing and Procedural Clarity
The revised eligibility clause now reads:
“A person shall not be qualified to be appointed as Election Commissioner unless he is a former judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court, or a person qualified to be a judge of the Supreme Court or High Court, or a person who has retired from government service in BS-21 or BS-22, or equivalent.”
The change was first proposed by the PCB, vetted by the Law and Justice Division, and forwarded for final approval under Rule 17(1)(c) of the Rules of Business, 1973 — the framework that governs federal decision-making in Pakistan.
Background: PCB’s Legal Standing
The Pakistan Cricket Board, originally established under the Sports (Development and Control) Ordinance of 1962, operates as an autonomous body with perpetual succession, responsible for managing and regulating cricket across the country. However, as a public institution under federal oversight, its legal structure is tightly linked to government policies and legislative frameworks.
This new eligibility amendment underscores the government’s ongoing involvement in the administrative side of cricket, a sport that remains both politically influential and passionately followed in Pakistan.
