Cricket

Pakistan's newly appointed white-ball captain, Muhammad Rizwan, has acquiesced to the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) revised selection policy, which eliminates his voting privileges in the selection of touring squads and playing elevens. This decision comes after initial hesitation from Rizwan.According to a source within the PCB, Rizwan agreed to the new system after discussions with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and senior selector Aaqib Javed. Under this system, Rizwan's input in the selection process will be purely advisory.The PCB's new selection policy was implemented following Pakistan's humiliating defeat against England in the first Test in Multan. The board appointed three new selectors – Aaqib, Azhar Ali, and Aleem Dar – and granted them sweeping powers to select teams without the consent of the captain or head coach.Pakistan's white-ball head coach, Gary Kirsten, resigned on Monday due to his disagreement with the new selection process and other issues with the PCB.The PCB has assured Rizwan that he will be consulted in finalizing teams, but the ultimate decision will rest with the five selectors. The selection committee is now responsible for selecting touring squads and playing elevens.To ensure effective communication, the PCB is sending national selector Asad Shafiq with the team to Australia for the white-ball matches. Shafiq will consult with the other selectors in Pakistan to select the playing eleven.

Pakistan's cricket team is facing a dilemma as they consider splitting the captaincy across the three formats of the game. The heavy schedule and workload on the current white-ball skipper, Babar Azam, has prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to explore alternative options.Despite expectations that Azam would retain the ODI captaincy, he surprisingly resigned late Wednesday night, citing a desire to focus on his batting. This has left the PCB, head coach Gary Kirsten, and the selection committee with the task of finding a suitable replacement.Muhammad Rizwan, the wicketkeeper-batter, is considered the frontrunner for the white-ball captaincy. However, concerns have been raised about his workload, as he is an automatic selection in all formats. The team's hectic international schedule, which includes 18 ODIs and T20Is in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, followed by two Tests in South Africa, has raised concerns about Rizwan's ability to handle the additional responsibility.Sources within the PCB suggest that the board may consider appointing separate captains for ODIs and T20Is, or naming a strong vice-captain to Rizwan who would lead the team in his absence. Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are among the candidates being considered for these roles.Kirsten has reportedly expressed reservations about any player taking on the captaincy in two formats, especially after Azam's recent loss of form and confidence. The PCB is now tasked with finding a solution that balances the need for strong leadership with the players' workload management.

Pakistan's disappointing T20 World Cup campaign has prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to consider resting senior players for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh in August. Captain Babar Azam, wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Rizwan, and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi are among those who may be given a break.Sources within the PCB indicate that Test captain Shan Masood and new red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie are in discussions to finalize plans for the Bangladesh series. The board is also in touch with white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten to coordinate preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy next year.One proposal under consideration is to field a team of uncapped or less experienced players for the Bangladesh Tests. This would allow the senior players to rest and recover ahead of a busy schedule that includes tours of Australia, South Africa, and England.The PCB is also seeking to establish a workload management system for players, balancing their availability for the national team with their commitments to franchise-based leagues.Meanwhile, the board is awaiting a report from Kirsten on the team culture, player behavior, and skill levels. This report will inform decisions on potential changes to the ODI and T20 squads.The PCB is also considering reducing the number of national selectors and reverting to the previous selection process.