Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has been elected as the new chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), reports Daily Sun.
He succeeds Shammi Silva, the head of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The leadership change was confirmed during the ACC's annual general meeting, held virtually on Thursday afternoon. Naqvi will serve a two-year term as chairman.
“In line with the decision of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Pakistan has officially taken over the presidency from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Effective immediately, Pakistan will lead the Council in its mission to promote and expand cricket across the Asian continent. With Pakistan at the helm, the ACC is set to strengthen and expand cricket’s presence in Asia, fostering growth and unity within the sport,” a media release stated.
One of Naqvi’s biggest challenges will be organizing the Asia Cup, scheduled for September. Originally allotted to India, the tournament will now be held in a neutral country due to diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan, which prevent travel between the two nations.
This decision was made during the sale of the media rights for the Asia Cup a couple of months ago. Naqvi will now need to decide which neutral country will host the six-team tournament. The UAE is the frontrunner, but Sri Lanka is also a contender.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
