Lahore, Oct 8 : Nearly two months after last PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf stepped down, 70-year-old former Test cricketer Ijaz Butt was yesterday appointed as the new chairman of the Board.

Ashraf had resigned on August 18 a few hours after former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf stood down to avoid impeachment.

"Yes, Ijaz Butt is the new PCB chief. The sports ministry has informed the board about the appointment by President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari," the Daily Times quoted PCB director media Mansoor Suhail as saying here last evening.

Ijaz, who played eight Tests during 1959-62 with modest success, becomes the 27th chairman of the PCB. He served as former secretary of the BCCP (Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan) in the late 1980s, twice chairman of the selection committee and was a member of the governing board during Nasim's tenure.

Besides, he was also the president of the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) for many years. He toured Australia in 1982-83 as manager of the Pakistan cricket team.

Ijaz, whose appointment ended weeks of suspense, is taking charge of the PCB at a time when Pakistan cricket is in turmoil. Australia, New Zealand, England and West Indies declined to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled in September, after a spate of suicide bombings.

ANI