PCB Restructures Selection Committee: Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, and Azhar Ali Appointed as New Members

The PCB has revamped its selection committee by appointing Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, and Azhar Ali. This move comes amid Pakistan’s challenging home Test series against England.

PCB Restructures Selection Committee: Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, and Azhar Ali Appointed as New Members

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has once again restructured its selection committee, appointing Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, and Azhar Ali as the latest members of the panel. The announcement came shortly after Pakistan suffered a crushing innings defeat against England in the Multan Test. The new appointments mark a significant change as Pakistan aims to rebound from a string of disappointing Test results.

A New-Look Selection Panel

The newly formed committee now includes seven voting members: Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, analyst Hassan Cheema, along with the team captain and head coach. The committee will operate without a designated head, a situation that has been the norm since August 2021. During this period, Pakistan has used an astonishing 26 different selectors, highlighting the ongoing instability in the country’s selection process.

There are also four non-voting members on the panel: Azhar Mahmood (assistant coach), Bilal Afzal (advisor to the PCB chairman), Nadeem Khan (director of high performance), and Usman Wahla (director of international cricket).

The Challenges Ahead

The selection changes came immediately after Pakistan suffered their third consecutive home Test loss, becoming the first team in history to lose a Test by an innings despite scoring over 550 runs in the first innings. This defeat also marked Pakistan’s seventh loss in their last nine home Tests. The losses have seen Pakistan plummet to the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, with only 16 points from eight matches.

The immediate task for the revamped selection panel is to pick a squad for the upcoming second Test in Multan, set to begin on 17 October. The PCB had previously announced the squad only for the first Test, leaving room for potential changes based on recent performances.

Restructuring Amid a Disappointing Series

The latest restructuring of the selection committee is just one of many over the past few years. Earlier this year, under PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, the committee underwent changes following Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup. Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq were removed from their roles without immediate replacements, and Mohammad Yousuf’s resignation last month left Shafiq as the lone voting member apart from the captain and coach.

The appointment of Aleem Dar as a selector has garnered considerable attention, as it is quite rare for former umpires to transition into selection roles. Dar, who stepped down from the ICC’s elite umpiring panel last year, continues to officiate in domestic and international matches. He recently announced that this season would be his last as a professional umpire, signaling a shift toward administrative roles in cricket.

Shan Masood’s Captaincy Under the Microscope

With four to five players’ performances being closely scrutinized, changes to the squad seem likely for the second Test. Despite scoring a century in the first innings of the Multan Test, captain Shan Masood’s leadership is under question, given his poor record of six consecutive losses without a win. Discussions surrounding his future as captain have intensified, especially after Pakistan’s recent series of disappointing results.

When questioned during the post-match presentation about potential squad changes, Masood emphasized the importance of consistency. “We’re in the middle of the series. We’ve talked about a squad mentality and consistency,” Masood said. He acknowledged England’s impressive performance in the first Test and suggested that the team must adapt to various conditions and find ways to win regardless of the circumstances.

Meeting in Lahore to Finalize the Squad

The newly appointed selection committee members convened at the PCB’s National Cricket Academy in Lahore on Friday afternoon. They will travel to Multan on Saturday to meet with the head curator, captain Shan Masood, and head coach Jason Gillespie to discuss strategies and finalize the squad for the second Test.

Pakistan’s Home Struggles

The recent loss to England has further highlighted Pakistan’s challenges in Test cricket, particularly on home soil. Despite impressive individual performances, the team has struggled to achieve consistent results, leading to frequent changes in the selection committee. The decision to overhaul the selection panel once again reflects the PCB’s desire to find the right balance and improve the team’s performance ahead of crucial matches.

Conclusion

The appointment of Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, and Azhar Ali to Pakistan’s selection committee signals another attempt by the PCB to address the issues plaguing the national team. The newly formed panel faces a daunting task in reversing the team’s fortunes as Pakistan prepares for the second Test in Multan. Fans will be eager to see whether the changes bring a positive turnaround or if the team’s struggles will continue. Keep up with the latest updates and squad announcements at findcric.com.