PCB Removes Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from Selection Committees

Lahore, The Gulf Observer: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed the removal of former cricketers Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from its selection committees for both men’s and women’s teams. The decision, announced via a press release, states that the services of both ex-cricketers will no longer be required in the national selection committee setup.

This restructuring follows the reorganization of the men’s national selection committee earlier this year in March, which aimed to bring more transparency to the process. However, the selected teams have failed to deliver satisfactory performances in subsequent series.

Wahab Riaz was a member of the men’s selection committee, while Abdul Razzaq served on the selection committees for both men’s and women’s teams. Their removal comes after the men’s team’s early exit from the T20 World Cup and the women’s team’s consecutive losses in bilateral series against England and the West Indies.

Sources within the PCB revealed that Riaz and Razzaq had significant influence in selecting the T20 World Cup squad, often supporting players who underperformed. Additionally, their opinions have not been considered for some time.

Despite these changes, the PCB has retained Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, and Bilal Afzal in the seven-member panel, which also includes the team captain and head coach. Further updates on the selection committee’s composition will be provided in due course.

The men’s team and the PCB have faced severe criticism from fans and the cricketing fraternity following the T20 World Cup debacle. PCB Chairman met with white-ball coach Gary Kirsten and red-ball coach Jason Gillespie to discuss important matters related to the team. He also convened a meeting with over two dozen former and current players to discuss the future of cricket in Pakistan. During this meeting, a presentation titled “Pathway to Pakistan Cricket” was revealed, outlining the steps a cricketer goes through to reach the national team.

The PCB chief has hinted at a “major surgery” within the organization and is holding consultations with various stakeholders regarding key decisions for Pakistan cricket, which are expected in the coming days. However, uncertainty remains regarding the team’s leadership, with no decision yet on Babar Azam’s future as the national side’s captain.