In a significant restructuring of Pakistan’s men’s national selection committee, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has removed the captains and head coaches of both the Test and limited-overs sides from their positions within the panel. The move, which comes less than a week after a major overhaul of the committee, is being seen as a response to the team’s underwhelming performance in the first Multan Test against England, which Pakistan lost by an innings and 47 runs.
Following the defeat, the PCB introduced a fresh-look selection panel that initially included captains, head coaches, and several PCB officials. However, the committee has since been trimmed down to just five members: renowned umpire Aleem Dar, former fast bowler Aaqib Javed, former captain Azhar Ali, and selectors Asad Shafiq and Hasan Cheema. The other members have been removed from the committee, with their names no longer appearing on the PCB’s official website.
The decision to overhaul the selection panel came after growing concerns regarding the team’s recent form, which included a disappointing performance from captain Babar Azam in the first Test. Despite backing from Shan Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie, who defended Azam’s spot in the team after his lean run of scores, the star batter was ultimately dropped from the side just days before the start of the second Test.
The squad announcement came after a protracted discussion between the new selection committee members, Masood, Gillespie, and Usman Wahla, the PCB’s director of international cricket operations, during Pakistan’s training session. Although Babar Azam’s exclusion raised eyebrows, the selectors have received praise for the bold changes they implemented, which include recalling off-spinner Sajid Khan to the squad. Khan had been dropped for Pakistan’s recent Test series against Bangladesh but was reintroduced after a stellar performance in Multan, where he took seven wickets in an innings, marking the best bowling figures for a bowler in Test matches at the venue.
Additionally, debutant Kamran Ghulam has been lauded for his exceptional performance, scoring a century in his first Test match. These standout performances from Ghulam and Khan have bolstered the selectors’ credibility, with many acknowledging the positive changes the new panel has brought.
Looking ahead, the newly formed selection committee’s next challenge will be to announce Pakistan’s squads for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against Australia, scheduled for next month. The PCB is expected to continue its overhaul of the team’s setup as it seeks to bounce back from recent setbacks and rebuild confidence ahead of future international engagements.
Also read: Sajid Khan Shines Again as Pakistan Sets England Daunting Chase in Multan