Khalid Mahmood (civil servant)

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Khalid Mahmood Gondal is a Pakistani civil servant and the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) between 1998 and 1999.^[1] He played a significant role in shaping Pakistan cricket during his tenure and oversaw various aspects of the sport's administration and development. He is the 1967 batch of Central Superior Services.^[2] He has also served as the provincial ombudsman of the Punjab, Pakistan.^[3]

One notable aspect of Khalid Mahmood's tenure was his stance on addressing corruption in cricket. He urged the PCB to not only make public the names of bookies involved in corrupt practices but also to send their cases to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for immediate action. Mahmood emphasized the importance of holding all responsible parties accountable, including both players and bookies, to eradicate corruption from the sport.

In an interview to Dawn, Khalid expressed no regrets for allowing top players like Wasim Akram, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and others to continue playing for Pakistan during a period when they were sidelined due to allegations of match-fixing. He defended his decision, citing a lack of strong evidence against the players and questioning the fairness of the inquiry conducted against them. Mahmood's support for the star players during a tumultuous time in Pakistan cricket reflects his commitment to prioritizing the interests of the national team.

While Khalid's tenure as PCB Chairman was marked by both successes and controversies, including Pakistan's unexpected defeat in the 1999 World Cup, his contributions to the sport are recognised. Despite being sacked as PCB chairman, Khalid's leadership during a critical period in Pakistan cricket history left a lasting impact.

Following Pakistan's unexpected defeat to Bangladesh in the group stage of the 1999 ICC World Cup, Khalid Mahmood expressed suspicions about the match's integrity. He believed that the defeat was embarrassing and shocking, considering Pakistan's previous successes in the tournament. Mahmood intended to initiate an inquiry into the match but was removed from his position before he could do so.

In response to the government's decision to form a high-level committee to decide on the participation of the national cricket team in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, Khalid Mahmood criticized the move. He argued that the committee's establishment was unnecessary and questioned its composition, noting the absence of a representative from the PCB, the main stakeholder. Mahmood believed that the government's decision to create the committee violated its own policy against mixing politics and sports.

Mahmood highlighted the importance of assessing the security situation independently, citing his experience during his tenure as PCB Chairman in 1999. Despite threats from India, Mahmood emphasized the need to ensure the Pakistani team's participation in international events to avoid sanctions and maintain positive relations with other cricket boards.

Mahmood expressed expectations for Najam Sethi, head of the Cricket Management Committee, to make decisions regarding the Asia Cup that should be respected. He also anticipated a challenging situation for Zaka Ashraf, a PCB representative, at ICC meetings due to the formation of the government committee and statements made by Minister Ahsan Mazari.

He was removed from the office after Pakistani defeat in 1999 Cricket World Cup.^[4]

The final for the ICC Cricket world cup 1999 was played at Lord's, London on 20th June 1999. Australia won by defeating Pakistan by 8 wickets in the final. Khalid Mahmood, the then chairman of PCB, said in an interview that the defeat was suspicious as the team did not have our "good players" as all of them were sidelined over allegations of match-fixing. He further stated that he wasn't satisfied of how Pakistan played against India and Bangladesh in the WC 1999.^[5]

In June 2022, Khalid Mahmood met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif^[6] to discuss the appointment of a new chairman for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The meeting addressed bureaucratic and cricket-related concerns, including potential candidates for the chairman position such as Najam Sethi, Zaka Ashraf, and Mahmood himself. However, Shehbaz Sharif indicated that there were more pressing issues at hand and suggested that it was not the right time to make changes in the PCB leadership.

Following Imran Khan's removal from office, there were speculations regarding the potential dismissal of the current PCB chairman, Ramiz Raja, due to the change in government.

Khalid Mahmood has close ties to the Sharif family, particularly with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Their relationship has been noted in various contexts, including discussions related to cricket administration and governmental affairs.

Khalid Mahmood has faced allegations of corruption amounting to 740 million Pakistani rupees during his time as a member of the Board of Finance WAPDA and as the Ombudsman of Punjab, Pakistan. These allegations have raised concerns about Mahmood's conduct and integrity in public office. The corruption allegations were also linked to a private asset management company called "Alkaram Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.," which is said to be indirectly owned by Khalid Mahmood and his family.

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