Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar has started a new innings as an advisor to the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as well as the brand ambassador for the governing body.
The express pacer’s appointment was confirmed by PCB chief Najam Sethi on Friday through his Twitter handle.
“Shoaib Akhtar has been appointed Advisor to Chairman on Cricket Affairs/Brand Ambassador PCB,” the seasoned administrator wrote.
Shoaib Akhtar has been appointed Advisor to Chairman on Cricket Affairs/Brand Ambassador PCB
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) February 16, 2018
On his part, the man fondly nicknamed as the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ said he was honoured to take up the key positions in Pakistan cricket and looked forward to getting started.
“Looking forward to work with Najam Sethi and PCB to take Pakistan cricket to the next level,” Akhtar wrote in response to the chairman’s tweet.
Looking forward to work with @najamsethi and #pcb to take PAKISTAN cricket to the next level. https://t.co/MT4sNhlXtT
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) February 16, 2018
“I am honored to be chosen for these positions in PCB (and) will work with same passion as I did when playing. Thank you once again,” he added.
Am honored to be chosen for these positions in @TheRealPCB ,will work with same passion as i did when playing.Thank you once again!#ShoaibAkhtar #PCB #BrandAmbassador #Advisor
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) February 16, 2018
The appointment comes as a surprise to many after Akhtar’s public criticism of Sethi’s management previously. The former stalwart had taken aim at the entire PCB management following Pakistan’s exit in the ICC 2015 World Cup. He has had several run-ins with the board during his 14-year-old international career between 1997 and 2011.
The 42-year-old played 46 Tests, 163 ODIs and 15 T20Is for Pakistan, picking up 444 wickets across all three formats.