Islamabad United’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Shoaib Naveed has emerged as the favourite for the position of Project Executive for the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) Pakistan Super League (PSL). The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is soon expected to make a final decision in this regard.  

The appointment could, however, raise questions of a conflict of interest. When PCB’s former chairman Najam Sethi resigned from his position, PCB’s Director Marketing and Sales Naila Bhatti, who was also serving as the Project Director of the PSL, was also removed from her positions after two months.

Senior General Manager (GM) Marketing Sohaib Sheikh handled the matters of the league until his departure in April this year. The PCB did not have a dedicated official working on PSL matters since that time.

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An advertisement for the position of Project Executive was issued in October with the application deadline set for November 11.

According to sources, many applications were received for the position, however, Naveed has emerged as the favourite. He has been the COO of the Islamabad United franchise since April, 2016. He has also served as the project manager for the PSL from 2014 to 2016 and as the Manager for Marketing and Sales in the PCB.

Naveed has the qualifications for the position; however the issue of conflict of interest could arise after his appointment. He is also a relative of the Islamabad United Owner Ali Naqvi.

PCB’s Director Commercial Babar Hameed, who assumed his duties in October, has also served as the country director for Islamabad United from 2015 to 2018.

When an Express representative tried to contact Naveed to ask if he had applied for the position, the Islamabad United COO refrained from making a comment.