The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to conduct a thorough review following the end of the home season. As part of this review, it is believed that current skipper Babar Azam may lose his captaincy role in two of the three formats. According to sources, the PCB is considering appointing separate captains for all formats of the game, with Azam potentially remaining as captain for just one format.
The PCB is also contemplating changes to the Pakistan team management after a disappointing home season, which included a Test whitewash at the hands of England. The contracts of head coach Saqlain Mushtaq and bowling coach Shaun Tait are set to expire on February 9, 2023. A final decision on any changes is likely to be made after the eight season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) next month.
In addition, the PCB Management Committee, led by Najam Sethi, has recently appointed Afridi as the interim chair of the Men’s National Selection Committee, following the dismissal of chief selector Muhammad Wasim, for the home series against New Zealand. Afridi expressed his excitement for the role and stated that he will do everything in his power to fulfill the responsibilities of this position to the best of his abilities.
“We need to get back to our winning ways, and I have no doubts that through meritocratic and strategic selection decisions, we will help the national side to perform strongly in the series against New Zealand and reclaim the confidence of our fans,” Afridi said.
The selection panel also includes former cricketers Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, with Haroon Rashid (member Management Committee) serving as the convener.
The PCB is under pressure to bring back the glory days of Pakistan cricket, as they have been facing a rough patch recently and have been struggling to find the right combination of players and tactics. The decisions taken in this review will be crucial in determining the future of Pakistan cricket, and the PCB will be hoping that these changes will bring the desired results.
