Abdul Razzaq breaks silence after being removed from selection committee

Former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has responded following his removal from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee. This decision came in the wake of Pakistan's disappointing performance in the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2024, where the team failed to progress beyond the group stage.

The PCB confirmed the changes in an official statement on Wednesday morning, stating, “It has notified Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz that their services will no longer be required in the national selection committee setup.”

Razzaq took to the social media platform 'X,' where he addressed the discussions surrounding his dismissal. "If all were given equal power, how can one vote overpower the other 6 in the selection committee??" Razzaq posted.

Similarly, former pacer Wahab Riaz, who was also recently relieved from his role as a selector, shared his thoughts in a detailed statement on 'X' (formerly Twitter). Riaz expressed pride in his contributions and emphasised the collective nature of the selection process.

"My time serving as a member of the selection committee for PCB comes to an end; I just want my people to know that I have served the game I love with faith and sincerity and have given 100 percent for the betterment of Pakistan cricket," Wahab posted.

"It has been an honour to serve as part of the selection panel. To make collaborative decisions as part of the seven-man panel to select the national team was a privilege - everyone's vote carried equal weight, we made selection decisions as a team & shared the responsibility of that process equally," he added.

"It was an honour to contribute my part to that. Moreover, it was an honour to support Gary Kirsten & the coaching group as they set their vision for this team. I am confident that the team plans the coaches have put together will ensure this team continues to grow into a dominant force as we move forward, and I wish them the best of luck on that journey," he said.

"I am thankful to the people who have prayed for me. I wish nothing but success for the future of the Pakistan cricket team," he concluded.

In light of these changes, the PCB has announced the formation of a new selection committee. The committee includes renowned former cricketers Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, and esteemed coaches Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten. Additionally, captains Shan Masood and Babar Azam, leading the men's white-ball and red-ball teams respectively, will play integral roles in the selection committee.