It's the 25th of March and the year is 1992. The Captain of a victorious Pakistani team is called upon to receive the World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history. As Imran Khan lifts the prestigious trophy on that beautiful evening in Melbourne, millions of his countrymen around the world are standing up in unison – connected by the invisible bond of kinship. In the days, months and years to come, that moment captured by television images will be the source of inspiration for millions of Pakistanis, within them countless players who will quote that moment as the day they decided to take up the game of cricket and proudly serve their nation.

By Amir Husain (2nd June, 2013)

It's the 25th of March and the year is 1992. The Captain of a victorious Pakistani team is called upon to receive the World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history. As Imran Khan lifts the prestigious trophy on that beautiful evening in Melbourne, millions of his countrymen around the world are standing up in unison – connected by the invisible bond of kinship. In the days, months and years to come, that moment captured by television images will be the source of inspiration for millions of Pakistanis, within them countless players who will quote that moment as the day they decided to take up the game of cricket and proudly serve their nation.

Such is the power of this game that it can change the mood of a nation, galvanise the resolve of the troubled, instilling belief that individuals who could easily have grown up in their neighbourhood, can carry Pakistan to the summit.

In Pakistan, the fate of the game largely depends on an organisation which has been entrusted with its welfare. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) represents the one body which controls the well-being and future development of this game in the country. Whilst the PCB may have been subject of criticism in the past for its inefficiencies, the fact that Pakistan has produced legendary cricketers in the form of Abdul Hafiz Kardar, Fazal Mahmood, Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram to name a few, is no coincidence.

Similar to any organisation of its size and broad remit, the PCB, whilst performing its primary duty as guardians of the game in Pakistan, has also faced some serious existential issues. It is in this context that one starts to appreciate the true value of leadership for this organisation. This can be best illustrated by comparing the state of affairs that existed in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore and the fallout of the “spot fixing” crisis, with both episodes causing near-irreparable damage to the credibility of Pakistan as a major cricketing nation.

Whilst international teams will continue to hesitate touring Pakistan for a while longer due to security concerns, had it not been for erudite and decisive leadership by the current Chairman of the PCB, Zaka Ashraf, the reputation of Pakistani cricket as a safe haven for corruption in cricket would have been difficult to shake off. The PCB have attracted some of the top international coaching talent, and also sought to invest in technological analysis tools at the National Academy. The stability has has also brought on-field success, with Pakistan whitewashing the then number-one ranked Test side England in the UAE and defeat of India in a limited-overs series in their own back yard being highlights.

Strong and responsive leadership was the need of the hour and Zaka Ashraf provided that quality in large measure. From his endless efforts to restore the reputation of domestic cricket through the negotiation of local sponsorship agreements, the organisation of national talent hunts and ground breaking fast bowling camps, to his attempts at attracting foreign teams to visit Pakistan, the endless energy exhibited by the Chairman puts the efforts of a number of his predecessors to shame.

The recent revelations of corruption in the IPL is a stark reminder that lack of sound governance can begin to unravel even the most well-oiled process, lessons were learned by the PCB in 2010 and effective countermeasures implemented accordingly. In addition, the admirable moves to build bridges with Boards of other cricket playing nations has been widely appreciated and the recent news that Ireland are considering a visit to Pakistan once conditions are conducive to touring confirm the strides the PCB have taken under Zaka Ashraf's leadership.

However, all the achievements by the present Chairman and his future plans are in great danger of being wiped out as a result of a politically-motivated lawsuit being filed by a local cricket team coach challenging the election of Zaka Ashraf. A subsequent court order asking Zaka Ashraf to “stop” acting as the Chairman has precipitated the paralysis of the PCB. To be clear, the court order does not in any way imply that Zaka Ashraf has been removed from his position but the repercussions of this court order are significant, in that it will project a negative image of the organisation which could easily destroy the PCB’s reputation as a serious Board with leadership capable of not only formulating, but implementing plans to improve Pakistani cricket.

With the national team now involved in a premier International tournament, the absence of a Chairman for the organisation they represent makes Pakistan the laughing stock of the international cricketing community just as it has recovered from the spot fixing crises of 2010 . It is utterly counter-productive and and robs the administrators of key networking opportunities at a global event, undermining Zaka Ashraf's attempts at restoring national pride due to the narrow and selfish motives of the few.

Zaka Ashraf has provided the guiding light to the PCB at a time when all appeared lost and even longstanding friends such as the England and Wales Cricket Board were forced to review the relationship. Cricket is the pulse of this nation and the game needs a sure hand to guide the PCB towards further success. At such a pivotal time in Pakistani cricket, the PCB needs the type of leadership Zaka Ashraf has provided, guiding Pakistani cricket through the most difficult of times.