Shakil, Gilani elected presidents of cricket bodies

ISLAMABAD—President Islamabad Cricket Association Shakil Shaikh and Maj (Retd) Syed Naeem Akhtar Gilani were elected Presidents of new but powerful tiers of Regional Cricket Associations of Islamabad and Rawalpindi respectively on Monday.
Ch Muhammad Maqsood Aslam of Gujrat was elected Secretary Islamabad Regional Cricket Association (IRCA) and Kaiser Jamil was elected as Secretary Rawalpindi Regional Cricket Association. The free, fair, independent and transparent elections, held at the office of the RDM Rawalpindi-Islamabad Col (Retd.) Naushad Ali, were conducted by Pakistan Cricket Board’s Election Commissioner Javed Zaman Khan, Brig (Retd) Salahuddin (member) and Kashif Zahid (Secretary).
“We are putting in place a new system of regional cricket associations to be elected through a democratic process” a beaming PCB Election Commissioner Javed Zaman announced just before the elections. Zaman has already conducted elections in 67 out of a total of 70 district cricket associations—a unique honour to introduce democracy in cricket affairs and administration.
In the case of Islamabad Region comprising Islamabad, AJK, Gujrat and Northern Areas, Shakil Shaikh was elected as President of the IRCA unopposed and so was the case with election of Ch Maqsood as Secretary IRCA.
“We congratulate the newly elected body, as they are the first in the nation to head Islamabad Regional Cricket Association”, said Javed Zaman.
He assured that this system would bring laurels for cricket, as the PCB would lend full support to these associations. In his speech, President IRCA Shakil Shaikh assured that equal treatment would be given to all the districts, with uplifting of cricket infrastructure and producing quality cricketers in a way to see Islamabad Region as No. One in the country. He expressed his gratitude to Chairman PCB Dr Nasim Ashraf and PCB Director Cricket Operations Salim Altaf for injecting the seeds of democracy in the cricket administration. He also lauded efforts of the PCB for bringing up such a democracy-based system for cricket administration in all the regions. Secretary IRCA Ch Maqsood highlighted the importance of these associations.
Brig Salauddin also spoke on the occasion. Following this, the PCB held elections for Rawalpindi Region which were swept by highly honourable and a popular figure Maj (Retd.) Syed Naeem Akhtar Gilani by an overwhelming majority. Naeem bagged 9 votes out of 10, as one vote was polled to Brig (Retd.) Munawwar Ahmed Rana.
Ashraf Qureshi was not permitted to contest these polls being a government servant, though his group swept polls as Naeem Gilani was his cover candidate.
Kaiser Jamil was elected Secretary RRCA unopposed after withdrawal of nomination papers by Malik Zaheer. Following the announcement of results, Brig (Retd) Rana congratulated the new President RRCA Maj (Retd.) Naeem and assured his full cooperation.
Maj (Retd.) Naeem Gilani assured all the districts that justice would be done with all and he would try to deliver by helping cricketers to excel at the highest level from this region. President RDCA Ashraf Qureshi also spoke on the occasion with his pledge to play a positive role in helping the new Regional Association of Rawalpindi and giving it a lending hand in cricket administration through use of his rich experience.—Agencies