PCB forms new selection committee

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the formation of a new selection committee following the national team’s disappointing performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

The newly constituted committee comprises Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, Jason Gillespie, Gary Kirsten, and captains of Pakistan’s men’s teams, Shan Masood and Babar Azam. The inclusion of both white-ball and red-ball coaches along with the team captains is part of the new formula aimed at ensuring a more comprehensive and balanced selection process.

One of the immediate tasks for the new committee is to finalise the squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, scheduled to take place in Pakistan next month. Data analyst Hassan Cheema and Director International Cricket Usman Wahla have been excluded from the committee.

A day earlier, the PCB confirmed the removal of former pacer Wahab Riaz and ex-allrounder Abdul Razzaq from the seven-member selection committee. Wahab was a member of the men’s selection committee, whereas Razzaq was part of both men’s and women’s selection committees.

Additionally, Wahab has been removed from the post of senior team manager, along with team manager Rana Mansoor, due to the lack of discipline during the last three tours of the men’s team. Sources revealed that both Wahab and Razzaq extended undue favours to certain players, which led to their removal following an investigation.