LAHORE: Former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt passed away in Lahore.
The 85-year-old was ill for a long period of time, according to his son-in-law Arif Saeed. Butt was the chairman of the PCB between 2008 and 2011, which included multiple sackings and appointments in the team management.
The PCB has expressed sorrow over the passing of Ejaz Butt and offered its condolences to his family.
“The PCB is saddened by the news of the passing of former Test cricketer and ex-PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends,” the PCB said in a brief statement on its official Twitter account.
The PCB is saddened by the news of the passing of former Test cricketer and ex-PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/EH0UuMBfhN
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 3, 2023
Ijaz Butt was a former Pakistani cricketer who played in eight Test matches from 1959 to 1962. A wicketkeeper and right-handed opening batsman, he scored 279 runs in his brief Test career.
He was a wicketkeeper with a first-class cricket career for Lahore, Multan, Punjab and Rawalpindi where he scored 3,842 runs with a best of 161.
For the next few decades, he worked as the director of new projects at Service Industries Pakistan, expanding it to one of the largest manufacturers of motorcycle tyres and tubes.
On 6 October 2008 President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), appointed Butt as chairman of the PCB.
He has been involved in several controversies during his career, presiding over Pakistan during a time when security concerns including a shooting incident involving the Sri Lankan tour bus stripped the country of several international fixtures.
