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Babar Azam At Forefront As PCB Announces New Selection Committee Before BAN Tests


PCB has announced new selection committee after T20 WC debacle (Twitter)PCB has announced new selection committee after T20 WC debacle (Twitter)

In a sweeping move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Friday, unveiled a revamped selection committee ahead of the eagerly anticipated two-match Test series against Bangladesh.

This reshuffle comes on the back of Pakistan's abysmal performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, prompting a significant re-evaluation of roles within the team's hierarchy.


Big changes in PCB as new selection committee takes shape

The new Pakistan selection committee sees a fusion of experience and leadership, incorporating both the captains of the red and white-ball teams (Babar Azam & Shan Masood) along with head coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie.

Asad Shafiq and Mohammad Yousuf, both veterans of Pakistan's cricket, have been retained and they will bring their extensive expertise to the fore. All these members will wield voting rights and crucial decision-making powers, marking a new era of strategic planning and team selection.

Moreover, the committee will also include non-voting members such as assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, and Bilal Afzal, Advisor to the Chairman. 

Hassan Cheema, Manager of Analytics and Team Strategy, along with Nadeem Khan and Usman Wahla, Directors of High-Performance and International Cricket respectively, complete the new Pakistan selection committee.

The catalyst for this overhaul was the removal of former pacer Wahab Riaz and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq from their selection roles, a decision rooted in a "loss of confidence," as stated by the PCB.

The aftermath of the T20 World Cup was a wake-up call, leading to Razzaq and Wahab's ousting from critical positions, including Wahab's role as the senior team manager.

Looking forward, the newly minted committee's immediate task is to curate a formidable squad for the Bangladesh series, slated to begin in late August.

These matches, forming part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle, are critical for Pakistan to regain its footing in the Test arena.

The first Test will unfold at Rawalpindi from August 21-25, followed by a showdown in Karachi from August 30 to September 3.

As the PCB turns over a new leaf with this strategic reshuffle, the eyes of the cricketing world will be keenly fixed on how these changes translate into performance.

The upcoming series against Bangladesh will be a litmus test for the efficacy of the revamped selection committee.