He replaces Sundra Rajoo who resigned after helming the body for nine years.
Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, who described Pradhan as the doyen of arbitration in Malaysia, said the lawyer was recognised the world over for his ability, experience and leadership.
“Having personally known Pradhan for decades, I can vouch for his unimpeachable integrity, which will enhance the standing of AIAC in the domestic and international arena. I am confident he will lead AIAC to lofty heights,” Thomas said in a statement.
Pradhan was called to the Malaysian Bar in 1974, having secured his law degree from the University of Singapore. He is currently a consultant with legal firm Skrine & Co.
Sundra, who was picked up by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for questioning last night, resigned from office earlier today.
However, a magistrate dismissed the MACC’s application for a remand order on grounds that Sundra had diplomatic immunity as head of the centre.
Malaysian Bar president George Varughese said the international community’s confidence in the AIAC would remain intact despite Sundra’s resignation.
Meanwhile, AFP reported that Sundra was detained late Tuesday by anti-graft investigators after flying in from Zurich, where FIFA has its headquarters.
Sundra, a FIFA Ethics Committee judge, was held overnight, but released following the court’s decision, lawyer Cheow Wee told AFP.
Cheow said the MACC had applied to hold Sundra for seven days as “they wanted to question him regarding a corruption allegation”.
Sundra has been accused of using his position to gain financial favours, reports said.
“My client has offered assurances that he will extend the full cooperation to MACC regarding the investigation,” his lawyer said.
Sundra was appointed last year as one of two deputy chairmen of the Ethics Committee’s adjudicatory chamber, which has slapped lifetime bans on several football executives named in a sprawling US Justice Department probe into football corruption.
The adjudicatory chamber was responsible for banning former president of the governing body of world football Sepp Blatter and UEFA head Michel Platini.