The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a new selection committee following Pakistan’s dismal performance at the ICC T20 World Cup last month.
Pakistan had a disastrous campaign in the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup as they were knocked out of the competition at the group stage. The Babar Azam-led side suffered a major blow in the first match as co-hosts USA recorded a historic win. They then suffered a defeat against India before winning their final two matches but it was not enough to earn them a place in the Super 8.
Former cricketers Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq became the first victims of PCB’s actions after the World Cup debacle as both were sacked as selectors earlier this week. Razzaq and Riaz were part of the seven-member selection committee that picked the squad for the T20 World Cup. Razzaq was also serving as the selector for the women’s team but was also removed from that post.
Pakistan’s new selection committee:
The new selection committee has 9 members, according to a report by Cricket Pakistan. The report stated that the new committee includes the captains of the red and white ball teams, head coaches Gary Kirsten, Jason Gillespie, Asad Shafiq and Mohammad Yousuf. All the above-mentioned members will have voting rights and decision-making authority.
At the same time, the PCB has also included members who will not have voting rights in selection matters. These members are assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, advisor to the PCB chairman Bilal Afzal, team strategy and analysis manager Hassan Cheema, high performance director Nadeem Khan and director of international cricket Usman Wahla.
The first task of the newly formed selection committee will be to pick Pakistan’s Test squad for the upcoming two-match home series against Bangladesh. The series is part of the World Test Championship (WTC).
It will also be Pakistan’s first assignment after the T20 World Cup. The Test series is scheduled to begin on August 21 in Rawalpindi. The second Test is scheduled to begin on August 30 in Karachi.
Pakistan vs Bangladesh Test Series Schedule 2024:
- 21-25 August: First Test in Rawalpindi
- August 30 – September 3: Second Test in Karachi