According to a report on ESPNcricinfo, following Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, the seven-member PCB selection committee is probably going to be reorganised.
In the T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan and India were the favourites to go through Group A and into the knockout stages. Pakistan’s performance was a huge letdown, even though India lived up to these expectations. Their campaign was derailed and an early exit was confirmed by their early defeats in their opening two matches against co-hosts USA and India.
Naturally, there were severe consequences, with a barrage of negative remarks from a number of former Pakistani celebrities aimed at the management as well as the team. Some were so incensed over being treated with such disdain that they went so far as to demand a total reform of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Although the PCB will carry out an exhaustive assessment to pinpoint Pakistan’s performance shortfalls, it is recognised that the board’s primary goal is to streamline the selection committee’s processes. Reducing the number of members on the selection committee is part of the PCB’s ambitions, and it may end its short-lived trial of functioning without formal head or chief.
Wahab Riaz, the former bowler from Pakistan, was chosen on November 17, 2023, to lead the national men’s selection committee. However, he lost the title three months later, even though he was still a committee member.
If the position of committee chair is restored, it is improbable that he will take it back. Wahab himself is among the PCB members who are not happy with the public’s view that he effectively leads the selection committee and takes the brunt of criticism. It is still very possible that Wahab would leave the committee entirely because PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is keen to state in public that bad things happen to everyone.
It’s thought that a decision about Babar Azam’s captaincy won’t happen anytime soon. Although there is a strong emotional response to Pakistan’s elimination from the ongoing T20 World Cup, a final decision is not felt necessary at this time, particularly since Pakistan’s next white-ball match is not scheduled until November, when they will be touring Australia for a three-match ODI series before playing as many T20Is.
Input from other management personnel who travelled with the team, most notably head coach Gary Kirsten, will also be included in the study. Having been appointed in April following a drawn-out process, Kirsten has significant power at the PCB.
Kirsten was not happy with the team’s cohesiveness after Pakistan was eliminated from the tournament, according to several reports. It’s unclear exactly what Kirsten said, but there was obviously a direct and intense exchange of viewpoints, which could influence the tone of the tour report he gives to the PCB.
Home