Special committee formed to evaluate Asia Cup disaster: PCB

Younus, Misbah called on as members to evaluate performance in tournament

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a ‘special committee’ to inspect the team’s poor performance in the 2016 Asia Cup and veteran batsmen Younus Khan and Misbahul Haq have been inducted in it as members.

The committee will be led by cricket committee chairman Shakil Sheikh. Apart from Misbah and Younus two more members will be a part of the committee: Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad and former Pakistan cricketer Iqbal Qasim.



“The Terms of Reference for the committee are being prepared and will include the selection criteria, the coaching preparation and the team performance,” read a PCB press release. “It will monitor the team’s performance in the World T20 and make its recommendations thereafter.”

Furthermore, the press release by PCB stated: “The committee will be empowered to call any person involved in the team performance. The chairman is already seeking the advice of his cricket advisors, Misbahul Haq and Younus Khan. The special committee will begin functioning immediately.”



Pakistan were knocked out of the race to play the Asia Cup final after being defeated by hosts Bangladesh on Wednesday. The loss led to public outrage and there were calls to make wholesale changes by axing Afridi, the team management and even the selection committee.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan however threw his weight behind struggling T20 skipper Shahid Afridi, for now, stating that he will lead Pakistan in the World T20 starting this month in India.



However, the PCB chief said that while changes may eventually be made, there won’t be any kneejerk reactions right now.

“Afridi will lead Pakistan in the World T20 even if I’m told by my advisors Misbahul Haq and Younus Khan to remove him,” said Shaharyar while addressing media at the PCB headquarters in Lahore on Thursday.



“We are considering Afridi’s captaincy but we can’t act too quickly,” he added. “Afridi has served Pakistan for 15 years and has been a match-winner. Changing the captain right now will be a disgrace for a great stalwart of Pakistan. When I came in as chairman, Afridi said that he wanted to captain the team in the 2016 World T20 and then retire.”