PCB removes captain and head coach from selection process in major shake-up

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a major overhaul to its selection process, granting full authority to a newly appointed five-member committee, led by former fast bowler Aaqib Javed. In a significant shift, both the team captain and head coach have been stripped of their voting rights, leaving the selectors with the exclusive power to decide the playing eleven for upcoming matches.

Joining Javed on the selection panel are Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hassan Cheema, who will have the final say on team composition.

While they are expected to consult with the captain and coach, all decisions will rest solely with the selectors. This restructuring reduces the size of the selection committee from seven to five members and aims to streamline the decision-making process.

This shake-up comes after Pakistan's heavy defeat in the first Test in Multan, which led to the appointment of the new selectors.

Several notable players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, have been rested, with new players like Haseebullah, Kamran Ghulam, and Mehran Mumtaz included in the squad.

The PCB also made further adjustments to the non-voting positions within the committee, removing the captain, head coach, and other advisory roles from the selection process altogether.

A PCB official confirmed that the current structure is final and aims to provide clarity and accountability in team selection moving forward.