Cricket

Former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razaaq's absence from the Pakistan Champions' playing eleven in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) final against India on Saturday was overshadowed by his recent removal from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection panel.Razaaq and his former teammate Wahab Riaz were dismissed from the PCB selection committee after Pakistan's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup, where they failed to advance past the group stage. Allegations of favoritism have been leveled against the duo, which they have denied.During a talk show on a Pakistani TV channel, Razaaq was asked if the PCB had promised any support or prize money to the team if they defeated India in the WCL final. Razaaq's response drew laughter from the panel and social media users."We received a termination letter," Razaaq quipped, referring to his dismissal as a selector.Razaaq has previously defended the selection decisions made for the T20 World Cup, stating that they were made collectively by the committee.Meanwhile, in the WCL final, India Champions defeated Pakistan Champions by five wickets. Led by Yuvraj Singh, India chased down a target of 157 runs in 19.1 overs. Ambati Rayudu (50) played a key role with a quickfire half-century, while Yusuf Pathan (30*) and Gurkeerat Singh Mann (34) made valuable contributions.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is on a collision course with some of the country's top cricketers after refusing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Naseem Shah for the Hundred tournament. The PCB is also expected to reject NOCs for several other all-format players for upcoming franchise tournaments.The decision means that Birmingham Phoenix will lose out on Naseem's services for the Hundred, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Babar Azam will not be allowed to play in the Global T20 League Canada. The PCB's reasoning is that it wants to manage the workload of its all-format players ahead of Pakistan's upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.However, the decision has raised questions about the PCB's commitment to allowing players to participate in overseas franchise leagues. The three-year central contracts signed last year allowed for two overseas franchise leagues per year, as long as those tournaments did not clash with the player's international commitments.The PCB's decision to withdraw players from leagues that do not directly clash with international cricket is likely to cause discontent among the affected players. It also raises questions about whether the allowance made in central contracts is being respected in spirit.The past month has seen an uneasy quiet take hold after Pakistan's disastrous T20 World Cup campaign. However, there have been signs that events are beginning to gather speed, with Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq sacked from the PCB selection committee.The PCB's decision to refuse NOCs to all-format players for upcoming franchise tournaments is a significant development. It remains to be seen how the players will react and whether the PCB will be able to maintain its hardline stance.

Pakistan's young fast bowler Naseem Shah has been denied a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to participate in The Hundred due to workload management concerns.Sources close to Geo News revealed that the PCB's decision was made as a precautionary measure after assessing Naseem's application. Despite being a regular member of Pakistan's team in all three formats, Naseem's injury history and fitness issues prompted the board to decline his request.In October 2023, Naseem underwent surgery to address a shoulder problem. The surgery ruled him out of the 2023 ICC World Cup, contributing to Pakistan's disappointing group-stage exit. Following the surgery, doctors advised Naseem to rest and recover for four to six weeks before returning to action. The injury is expected to keep him out for a minimum of three to four months.Pakistan has a busy schedule of important World Test Championship matches in the coming months. They will face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting on August 21. Pakistan's red-ball head coach, Jason Gillespie, has already hinted at the possibility of Shaheen Shah Afridi missing the series.Shaheen and his wife Ansha are expecting their first child, and he may miss the Test series against Bangladesh next month. "Shaheen can miss Bangladesh Test matches due to childbirth. We can give him [some] rest if he wants to stay with his wife till then," said Gillespie.In addition to red-ball cricket, Pakistan will also play limited-overs cricket against Australia in November. The PCB's decision to deny Naseem an NOC is aimed at protecting him from further injuries and ensuring his availability for these crucial matches.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a revamped selection committee for the upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh, retaining former players Muhammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq. The decision follows a recent reorganization within the PCB's selection panel.Yousuf and Shafiq were part of the previous selection committee that picked the T20 World Cup squad. Despite the team's disappointing performance in the tournament, the PCB has opted to retain their services. Yousuf, who also served as the batting coach, and Shafiq will continue to play key roles in the selection process.The new selection committee will include the captains and head coaches of the red and white-ball teams, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the team's needs. All members, including Yousuf and Shafiq, will have voting rights and decision-making authority.To enhance the committee's expertise, the PCB has also included non-voting members such as assistant team coach Azhar Mahmood and four PCB board members/employees. These individuals will provide valuable insights and support the selection process.The restructured committee is tasked with selecting the squad for the two-Test series against Bangladesh, which is part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 cycle. The matches are scheduled to take place in Rawalpindi from August 21-25 and in Karachi from August 30-September 3.The PCB's decision to retain Yousuf and Shafiq in the selection committee reflects their experience and knowledge of the game. The committee's diverse composition, with both voting and non-voting members, is expected to foster a collaborative and informed selection process.

Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq, former Pakistan Test cricketers, have vehemently denied allegations of favoritism and coercion in the selection process for the T20 World Cup. The duo was dismissed as selectors by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday, sparking controversy.Wahab, who was perceived to be close to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, had held various roles within the board, including chief selector and senior team manager. However, allegations emerged that he had overlooked misconduct by pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi during the World Cup.In a statement, Wahab refuted these claims, emphasizing that decisions were made collectively by the seven-member selection panel. "Everyone's vote carries equal weight," he said. "We made selection decisions as a team and shared the responsibility equally."Razzaq echoed Wahab's sentiments, stating that the selectors reached consensus through majority votes. "How can I sway the other selectors while selecting the team?" he questioned.The PCB had appointed the selection committee in March without a designated chief selector. It comprised former cricketers Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, along with Wahab, Razzaq, the head coach, captain, and data analyst Bilal Afzal.The board's analyst Hasan Cheema and director of international cricket operations Usman Wahla also attended selection committee meetings.The allegations against Wahab and Razzaq have raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the selection process. The PCB has not yet commented on the matter, but it is expected to investigate the claims.

Pakistan's star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has been embroiled in a controversy after media reports alleged that he engaged in inappropriate behavior towards head coach Gary Kirsten and other coaching staff during the England tour and the T20 World Cup 2024.According to sources cited by Geo News, Afridi's alleged misbehavior included disrespectful language and confrontational behavior. The reports claimed that team managers were aware of the situation but failed to take any action against the pacer.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has remained silent on the matter, but Afridi took to social media to post a cryptic message. He shared a video of himself bowling at the nets with the caption "Rise Above."The allegations against Afridi have sparked widespread discussion and concern within the Pakistani cricket community. Some have questioned the PCB's handling of the situation, while others have defended Afridi, citing his exceptional talent and potential.Meanwhile, the PCB has confirmed that Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz have been removed from the national selection committee. Razzaq was a member of both the men's and women's selection committees, while Riaz was a selector for the men's team.Sources have alleged that Riaz and former team manager Rana Mansoor were involved in providing undue favors to certain players, leading to their removal. The PCB has not officially commented on these allegations.The recent controversy surrounding Afridi and the changes to the selection committee highlight the ongoing challenges facing Pakistani cricket. The PCB is under pressure to maintain discipline and professionalism within the team while also fostering a positive and supportive environment for players.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has overhauled its selection committee following the team's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup. The new committee will include coaches of white-ball and red-ball formats, along with the captain of the relevant format. Former cricketers Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq will also join the panel.The decision comes after the Babar Azam-led side crashed out of the group stage of the T20 World Cup. The team's woeful performance prompted PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to make changes in the team management.On Wednesday, the PCB confirmed that Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz would no longer be part of the national selection committee. Razzaq was a member of both the men's and women's selection committees, while Riaz was a selector for the men's team.Riaz was also removed from his position as senior team manager along with team manager Rana Mansoor due to a lack of discipline.Sources have informed Geo News that Wahab and Mansoor were involved in providing undue favors to certain players. These players, who were included in the team based on their support, failed to perform. Other selection committee members reportedly opposed their inclusion.Following his removal from the committee, Riaz took to Twitter to express his disappointment. "There is a lot I can say, but I don't want to be part of the blame games," he wrote.The PCB has had six top selectors in the last four years, including Wahab, Mohammad Wasim, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Haroon Rashid, and Misbah-ul-Haq. All of them had brief tenures.The new selection committee is expected to bring stability and consistency to the team selection process. The inclusion of coaches and the captain will provide valuable insights into the team's performance and needs.

Pakistan's disappointing T20 World Cup campaign has led to the dismissal of Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq as selectors for the national team. The departures, expected to be officially announced later this week, mark the first casualties in the fallout from the team's early exit from the tournament.Wahab's position as a selector had been under scrutiny following Pakistan's group stage elimination. Despite being removed as chief selector earlier this year, he was widely seen as the de facto head of the seven-member committee. This perception reportedly caused internal frustrations for Wahab, who bore the brunt of criticism for the committee's decisions.The nature of the selection committee is also likely to be revised, with the appointment of a chief selector expected. The number of selectors may also be reduced, making it unlikely that Wahab and Razzaq will be replaced.Wahab's departure is a significant setback for a man who was once considered close to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Wahab had served as caretaker sports minister in Naqvi's cabinet and followed him to the PCB, where he was initially appointed chief selector. He also traveled with the Pakistan team to the T20 World Cup as senior team manager.Naqvi is believed to have been keen to demonstrate that no one is immune from consequences. The decision to dismiss Wahab and Razzaq represents another U-turn in the PCB's selection process. The seven-member committee was only announced four months ago, with Wahab demoted from chief selector. At the time, Naqvi stated that the committee would make decisions based on debate and argument.The instability within the selection committee has been a persistent issue for the PCB in recent years. Six chief selectors have been appointed in the past four years, including Wahab, Haroon Rashid, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, and Misbah-ul-Haq.The remaining five members of the selection committee include the head coach and captain of the respective formats, Mohammad Yousaf, Asad Shafiq, and data analyst Bilal Afzal.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has granted head coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie full authority to revamp the national team's fortunes following their disappointing T20 World Cup performance.In a meeting with the coaches, Naqvi expressed his unwavering confidence in their abilities and pledged the board's unwavering support. Kirsten, the white-ball coach, candidly shared his concerns about the team's performance at the World Cup.Both coaches emphasized the need for stringent fitness standards as a prerequisite for team selection. Naqvi empowered them to make any necessary changes to improve the team's performance, without compromising on player selection or fitness.Kirsten had previously warned senior players to adapt to new skills and enhance their game awareness or risk being left behind. Senior team manager Wahab Riaz's report to Naqvi highlighted personality clashes within the team during the World Cup.Naqvi granted both coaches carte blanche to implement their plans for both red-ball and white-ball formats. Assistant coach Azhar Mahmood also attended the meeting.Kirsten stressed the need to rebuild combinations and change the mindset of players in the white-ball format. He and Gillespie had agreed to become head coaches a few months before the World Cup, with Naqvi offering them long-term contracts and the assurance of ample time to implement their strategies.Kirsten, who previously worked with the Indian team, brings a wealth of experience to Pakistan. The PCB is optimistic that under his and Gillespie's guidance, the team can regain its former glory.