(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Federal Cabinet Approves Key Change to PCB Election Commissioner Criteria
In a significant development aimed at enhancing transparency and governance in cricket administration, the federal cabinet has approved changes to the eligibility criteria for the appointment of the Election Commissioner of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
According to official sources, the cabinet has now permitted the PCB to appoint retired civil servants from Basic Scale (BS) 21 as Election Commissioners. This marks a notable shift from the previous rules, which only allowed retired BS-22 officers or former judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts, or those eligible for such judicial positions, to hold the role.
The decision, approved during the Cabinet Committee for Legislative Cases (CCLC) meeting on July 24, 2025, comes after the PCB highlighted the limited pool of eligible candidates under the 2014 Constitution. The board argued that the earlier criteria made it challenging to find qualified and independent individuals to oversee fair elections.
Under the revised rule, a person will now be considered eligible for the role of Election Commissioner if they are:
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A former judge of the Supreme Court or High Court,
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Eligible to become a judge of the Supreme Court or High Court,
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Or a retired government servant in BS-21 or BS-22 (or equivalent).
The amendment was initially proposed by the PCB, reviewed by the Law and Justice Division, and formally submitted for cabinet approval in accordance with Rule 17(1)(c) of the Rules of Business, 1973.
The Pakistan Cricket Board, established under the Sports (Development and Control) Ordinance of 1962, functions as the central governing body for cricket in Pakistan. This latest step is expected to support the PCB in fostering more efficient and credible administrative processes within the sport.
