Afridi-led selection committee meets Babar, Saqlain

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s newly-appointed selection committee, led by Shahid Afridi, met national team's skipper Babar Azam and head coach Saqlain Mushtaq on Sunday.

The meeting featured selection issues after Pakistan's fresh draw against New Zealand in the opening Test of the two-match series at the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi.

The temporary chief selector Afridi said that he had a good meeting with the coach and captain.

"Aggressive cricket, good pitches, and positive strategy were discussed. Together we will work for the improvement of Pakistan cricket. Good pitches are essential to make Pakistan a top team," the former skipper said.

"We want to remove fear from the hearts of players. In order to play good cricket in other countries, we have to prepare here," he added.

The PCB Management Committee, led by Najam Sethi, had appointed former Pakistan captain Afridi as the interim chair of the selection committee for the home series against New Zealand.

Other members of the panel are Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, while Haroon Rashid (member Management Committee) will be the Convener.

Moreover, Afridi dismissed concerns and rumours about the management and Afridi not being on the same page.

"There has been a lot of positive discussion on the issue of selection. The selection committee and management are almost on the same page. Communication with everyone is very important," he said.

In addition, Afridi said that there will be a better pitch for the upcoming matches. But he also clarified that there won't be a big difference.

It must be noted that Pakistan cricket chief Ramiz Raja was sacked just days after the national team suffered a humiliating first-ever 3-0 home series whitewash at the hands of England, according to a government notice.

But a change had been on the cards since April, when Imran Khan — a former national captain — was ousted as prime minister and replaced by Shehbaz Sharif.

Raja, a member of Khan´s 1992 World Cup-winning side, was appointed chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in September last year.

A government notice seen by AFP said Sharif´s cabinet had dismissed Raja, and the PCB would now be run by a 14-member committee headed by Najam Sethi, who has twice served as chairman.

The committee also includes legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who is a former captain of the men´s team.

The government notice also said the current constitution of the board has been scrapped, and one dating from 2014 revived.

The committee will have 120 days to change the constitution and elect a new chairman.

Khan came under fire for changing the PCB´s constitution in 2019 — in particular for abolishing the role of government departments and private entities in first-class cricket, leaving hundreds unemployed.

However, in his tweet, Sethi said "thousands of cricketers will be employed again".

"The famine in cricket will come to an end," he added.

Comments

Submit