The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has, in an apparent change of heart, has reinstated the vast majority of the lower-grade employees who were sacked only two days ago.

A board spokesman told Cricinfo that Naseem Ashraf, the board chairman, made the decision to reinstate 66 of those sacked on 'humanitarian grounds.' The decision to sack 11 high-ranking officials, however, still stands.

Two days ago, the PCB had sacked 80 employees including 69 working in the lower cadre and 11 high-ranking officials after a comprehensive audit carried out by Ferguson and Associates recommended the employees were not suited to their specific roles.

A board spokesman told Dawn that the employees were working either on a contractual basis or daily wages and their new contracts would be signed soon without any break in their services.

According to the newspaper, earlier in the day, a majority of the sacked employees gathered at the PCB offices as the chairman arrived, demanding immediate restoration of services. The chairman assured them that he would do his best for them after considering their case.

Meanwhile, the PCB also announced that there were no plans for further retrenchment in the board.

Cricinfo