Pakistan Cricket Board to make changes in selection committee after poor show

New Delhi: In the wake of Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, significant changes are in store for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee. A comprehensive review will determine what went wrong with the team, but streamlining the selection committee’s operations has become a top priority, according to a Thursday news report.

According to ESPNcricinfo, the seven-member committee, which currently has no official head, is likely to be downsized, and the PCB may abandon its recent experiment of a leaderless selection process.

Just three months ago, the current selection committee was formed, with Wahab Riaz stripped of his role as chairman but remaining a member. The committee functioned on the basis of equal votes and majority decisions. However, this setup is now coming under scrutiny, with growing frustrations within the PCB, including from Wahab himself, over the public perception that he unofficially leads the committee and is bearing the brunt of the criticism.

As a result, Wahab’s complete departure from the committee is a strong possibility as PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi seeks to demonstrate that no one is immune from repercussions.

The report also said that despite the unrest, a decision on Babar Azam’s captaincy is not expected immediately. While emotions have run high following Pakistan’s exit from the World Cup, the urgency to address the captaincy issue is less urgent as Pakistan’s next white-ball match is not until November.

The assessment process will incorporate feedback from several management members who accompanied the team, with input from head coach Gary Kirsten carrying significant weight. Kirsten, who was appointed in April after an extensive search, has reportedly raised concerns about the lack of unity within the team. While the exact nature of his comments remains uncertain, it is clear that a frank and robust exchange of views took place, which is likely to influence his report to the PCB.

Additionally, the upcoming revisions to players’ central contracts, which expire on June 30, could potentially signal additional changes to the national set-up. Although a landmark three-year contract deal was reached last year, individual players’ positions can be adjusted based on their performance.

Currently, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi have contracts in the top tier, but their rankings could be re-evaluated in light of recent performances. IANS

Also read: Bastos scores late after Botafogo Salvage draw against Athletico Paranaense

Also look at: