Asad Shafiq to join Wahab Riaz-led selection committee: sources
The 37-year-old will be taken on board as a selector and consultant focused on Karachi cricket
KARACHI: Amid a major overhaul taking place in Pakistan cricket team management, Test cricketer Asad Shafiq is set to join the Wahab Riaz-led selection committee, Geo News reported citing sources.
According to the sources, the 37-year-old will be taken on board as a selector and consultant focused on Karachi cricket. Shafiq will be stepping into the role for the first time.
The right-handed batter is expected to commence his responsibilities from January 1, 2024. He will be seen assisting the team during the New Zealand T20I series as his initial assignment.
The delay in Shafiq joining the selection committee comes as he is due to play in the Sindh Premier League (SPL), which is scheduled to take place this month.
The sources close to Shafiq suggested that he will inform about his availability in the next few days, as he is currently engaged in the ongoing National T20 Cup.
The Test cricketer’s inclusion in the selection committee signifies a deliberate move towards incorporating diverse perspectives. He will be part of the committee which includes Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt and Rao Iftikhar.
It should be noted that the board, on December 1, confirmed the appointment of former cricketers Kamran Akmal, Rao Iftikhar Anjum and Salman Butt as consultant members.
“The three have assumed their responsibilities in the selection panel with immediate effect. Their first assignment as consultant members to the chief selector includes the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, set to commence on January 12, 2024, following the conclusion of the Test tour to Australia," the PCB said in a brief statement.
“When not engaged in selection duties, the consultant members may be assigned additional tasks such as conducting skills camps.”
In the wake of Pakistan’s unsatisfactory performance during World Cup 2023, the PCB accelerated it efforts towards making major changes in the management and the team.
The changes surfaced on November 15 after Babar Azam stepped down as the captain from all formats following his meeting with PCB Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf after the former skipper was only offered to retain Test captaincy.
Soon after his resignation, the PCB named new captains for Test and T20I cricket with Shan Masood and Shaheen Afridi taking the realm of respective formats.
The PCB then appointed former cricketer Mohammad Hafeez as the director of the team, while Wahab Riaz assumed the role of chief selector.
Another former pacer Sohail Tanveer was named the head of the junior selection committee, while legendary batter Mohammad Yousuf was given the responsibility of coaching Pakistan’s U19 team.
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