Selectors get full authority in PCB shake-up

They will exclusively decide team composition

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has once again revamped its selection committee, reducing its size from seven to just five members. This move comes as the PCB entrusts full authority to the new selectors, who will now have the sole responsibility for selecting the playing eleven for upcoming matches.

The newly appointed selectors—Aaqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hassan Cheema—will make all decisions regarding team composition, stripping both the captain and the head coach of their voting rights in the selection process. This unprecedented change binds the hands of the team leadership, ensuring that the selectors have the final say on the playing eleven from the 15-member squad.

While the selectors are expected to consult with the team captain and head coach when determining the eleven players to take the field, the ultimate decision-making power rests entirely with them. This structure marks a decisive shift in the PCB's approach to team selection, aiming to streamline the process and provide clarity in decision-making.

In a recent update to its official website, the PCB introduced the new selection committee members alongside non-voting positions held by assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, chairman advisor Bilal Afzal, director of the High-Performance Center Nadeem Khan, and director of international operations Usman Wahla. However, just two hours later, the website was updated again to grant the captain and head coach voting rights. Now, following the latest revisions, these non-voting members, along with the captain and head coach, have been removed entirely.

A PCB official confirmed to "Cricket Pakistan" that the current selection committee structure, as updated on the website, is final and empowered to make all selection decisions. This restructuring comes in the wake of the team's disappointing performance in the first Test in Multan, where the squad chosen by Asad Shafiq, Hassan Cheema, the captain, and the head coach suffered a heavy defeat by an innings and 47 runs.

Following the loss, the PCB swiftly appointed Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, and Aleem Dar as selectors. The new team includes notable absentees like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Sarfaraz Ahmed, who have been rested, while fresh faces like Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Kamran Ghulam, fast bowler Mohammad Ali, and off-spinner Sajid Khan have been brought into the fold. Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood, who were initially part of the first Test squad but were later released, have also made a return to the 16-player squad.