PCB removes Salman Butt from selection committee

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sacked former cricketer Salman Butt from the selection committee, chief selector Wahab Riaz announced in a presser on Saturday.

PCB confirmed the appointment of former cricketers Kamran Akmal, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, and Salman Butt as consultant members yesterday.

However, a decision has been made to take Salman Butt's name back after the decision drew severe criticism from the cricketing fraternity.

Wahab stressed that it was he who made the decision to include Butt in the committee and now he is taking to remove him. "The decision to take Salman Butt's name back is solely mine."

"Salman Butt has served his time, people have to move on now. They are instead running agendas against myself and against Salman, and a few media houses are involved in running agendas. People were accusing me of nepotism too," he added.

"I was getting criticised for appointing Salman But with an allegation of preferring friendships. I didn't want this to happen for which I reverted back my decision on Salman Butt," he maintained.

Meanwhile, Wahab cited the examples of Indian cricket where players like Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja have taken roles.

"In India, we have examples of Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja. They are working in cricket now and there is no fuss. Azharuddin is president of one of the cricket associations and Jadeja was Afghanistan's batting consultant in the World Cup," Wahab added.

Asad Shafiq becomes part of selection committee

The former left-arm pacer confirmed the appointment of Test batter Asad Shafiq to the committee.

The 37-year-old 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.

In the wake of Pakistan’s unsatisfactory performance during World Cup 2023, the PCB accelerated its 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.