Cricket

Gary Kirsten's resignation as Pakistan's limited-overs coach has sparked discussions about the role of international coaches in team selection. Kirsten's departure comes after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) restructured coaching roles and removed head coaches from the selection committee following Pakistan's loss to England in the first Test.Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria expressed support for Kirsten's decision, citing the pressure and criticism he faced after Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup and home Test series loss to Bangladesh. Kaneria emphasized that international coaches need time to adapt and perform, and that Kirsten's experience would have been valuable for Pakistan's young players.The PCB's decision to alter its selection committee has also raised questions. Previously, head coaches and captains had voting rights on the committee, but after Pakistan's loss to England, the PCB delegated all selection powers to a newly formed committee.Kaneria suggested that Kirsten may have wanted to be involved in the selection process, but that the PCB's decision to exclude international coaches from the committee was justified. He explained that international coaches often lack familiarity with domestic players, which is crucial for effective selection.Kirsten's resignation leaves Pakistan without a limited-overs coach ahead of their upcoming ODI series against Australia. The team will face Australia in Melbourne on November 4, marking their first ODI since last year's World Cup.

Pakistan's recent struggles in Test cricket, coupled with early exits from the last ODI and T20 World Cups, have raised concerns about the management of the sport by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the development of domestic talent.Despite a promising performance in the ongoing second Test against England in Multan, Pakistan lost the first Test despite scoring over 500 runs in their first innings. They were also swept 2-0 at home by Bangladesh in the preceding series.In response to the team's poor form, the PCB has appointed a new selection committee, reducing its size from seven to five members. Led by former pacer Aaqib Javed, the committee includes Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hassan Cheema. The captain and head coach have been stripped of their voting rights in the selection process.Aaqib Javed, who played in numerous memorable India-Pakistan matches, recently met with India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir. Javed revealed that Gambhir expressed concerns about Pakistan's decline."We met the Indian players during our series against Sri Lanka. Gautam Gambhir asked me, 'Aaqib bhai, what has happened to Pakistan cricket? There is so much talent, we all see it, but what have they done?'" said Javed.Javed believes that Pakistan's fall has diminished the excitement of India-Pakistan encounters. "He (Gambhir) also feels sorry about it, because there are a few (top-level) teams, and the Pakistan-India matches provide the biggest thrill. So if your team (Pakistan) falls like that, then one of the game's biggest matches loses its charm.""People in the ICC laugh about it," he added.The PCB's decision to revamp the selection committee and the concerns raised by Gautam Gambhir highlight the urgent need for Pakistan to address its cricket management and talent development strategies.

Pakistan cricket has been plagued by a persistent cycle of changes, with coaches, captains, players, selectors, and even board chairmen coming and going. Despite these constant shifts, the team's problems remain unresolved.The latest shake-up came after Pakistan's loss in the opening Test against England, prompting a change in the selection committee and the benching of key players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah. However, former England captain Nasser Hussain believes the blame lies not with these individuals but with the systemic issues within Pakistan cricket."The issue is not Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, or Naseem Shah," Hussain said. "The issue is behind the scenes in the way Pakistan cricket runs."Hussain pointed out that Pakistan has used 26 different selectors for the senior men's national team, a staggering number that highlights the lack of stability and continuity. He emphasized that no sport or business can function effectively with such frequent changes."If you keep changing selectors, coaches, captains—constantly shuffling leadership—it's impossible to plan ahead," Hussain said. "No successful business or sports team works that way."Hussain also acknowledged the financial challenges faced by Pakistan cricket, but he stressed that the team's self-inflicted problems have exacerbated the situation."They shoot themselves in the foot," Hussain said. "Their cricket and some of it, you give them a bit of leeway because of the way the finances of the world game have gone with the big three, and they're picking up the scraps like other nations are."Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram echoed Hussain's sentiments, saying that he and Atherton "are onto something."As Pakistan prepares for the second Test against England without Babar, Shaheen, and Naseem, the team faces an uphill battle to turn its fortunes around. The constant changes and lack of stability have created a culture of short-term thinking and unpreparedness that has hindered the team's progress.

Pakistan's cricket team has undergone significant changes ahead of the second Test against England, with star batter Babar Azam being dropped from the squad. The decision was made by the newly formed selection committee, which met in Lahore and Multan after Pakistan's chastening innings loss in the first Test.Babar's omission is a major blow to Pakistan, as he is their most experienced and successful batter. However, the selection committee felt that he would benefit from time away from the national side, as he has not scored a Test half-century since December 2022.The selection panel comprises Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Aleem Dar, Hassan Cheema, and the captain and head coach of the format for which the squad is being selected. It is understood that neither Masood nor Gillespie were part of the selection committee meeting on Friday.While some of the mentors were in favor of keeping Babar in the squad, the majority opinion was in favor of dropping him. It is not yet clear whether Babar will make himself available to play the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which is scheduled to begin on October 20.Babar's form has been under scrutiny for some time, and his struggles against England on a flat wicket only intensified the pressure on him. He has now gone 18 innings without a half-century in Test cricket, and his average in nine Tests since the start of 2023 is under 21.The loss of form has coincided with a turbulent time in terms of Babar's leadership status. He resigned as captain from all formats after Pakistan's elimination at the ODI World Cup in 2023, but was reappointed as T20I and ODI captain just four months later. However, he quit captaincy once more in June 2024, citing a desire to focus on his batting.Babar's omission is not the only change to the Pakistan squad. Abrar Ahmed remains in hospital and is unlikely to recover in time for the second Test. Selectors are considering Noman Ali and Sajid Khan as potential replacements. There is also a chance that Shaheen Afridi does not play the second Test, as he continues to struggle to return to his pre-knee injury form.The second Test against England begins on October 15 in Multan. England won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs, putting Pakistan at the bottom of the World Test Championship table.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has undergone a significant overhaul of its men's selection committee, appointing four new voting members: Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, and Hasan Cheema. This move comes just over 10 days after Mohammad Yousuf's resignation from the panel.The appointments mark the latest restructuring of the selection committee, which has seen several changes this year. Notably, coaches will no longer have a say in squad selection. Asad Shafiq and Cheema were already part of the committee, but Cheema has now been granted voting rights.The selection panel was initially restructured earlier this year under PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, with no chief selector appointed. However, Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq were sacked after Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup in June, without any replacements named. Yousuf's resignation at the end of last month also left Shafiq as the only voting member outside of the captains and coaches.The appointment of the new voting members comes shortly after Pakistan's innings-and-47-run defeat to England in the first Test in Multan. This loss made Pakistan the first team in Test history to lose a match by an innings after scoring over 550 runs in their first innings.As a result of this defeat, Pakistan has slipped to the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table with only 16 points from eight games. The team's performance has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the selection committee and the overall direction of Pakistan cricket.The PCB's decision to appoint four new voting members is an attempt to address these concerns and improve the team's performance. The new members bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the committee, and their input is expected to be valuable in selecting the best possible squads for upcoming matches.

Pakistan's Selection Committee Undergoes Further Restructuring as Mohammad Yousuf ResignsThe Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the resignation of Mohammad Yousuf from its restructured selection committee. Yousuf, a former Pakistan captain and batting legend, was one of the five remaining voting members on the committee.In a statement on social media, Yousuf cited "personal reasons" for his decision to step down. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Pakistan team and wished them well in their future endeavors.The PCB thanked Yousuf for his contributions and stated that he had "voluntarily stepped down...to focus on other key responsibilities within the cricket board." Yousuf remains a batting coach at the PCB's National High Performance Centre.Yousuf's departure follows a period of volatility within Pakistan's selection setup. Wahab Riaz was appointed chief selector late last year but was sacked along with Abdul Razzaq after Pakistan's disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup in June.The current selection committee, which has no chief selector, now consists of the captains and coaches of the national team, as well as Asad Shafiq and Yousuf. With Yousuf's resignation, Shafiq is the only voting member outside of the captains and coaches remaining on the committee.The committee's next task will be to announce the squad for the remainder of Pakistan's Test series against England. The first Test of the series will begin on October 7 in Multan.

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.

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.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is poised to overhaul its seven-member selection committee following Pakistan's disappointing T20 World Cup campaign. The board will conduct a thorough review to identify areas of improvement, with streamlining the selection process a top priority.Sources within ESPNcricinfo indicate that the number of selectors will be reduced, and the PCB is considering reinstating the position of a chief selector. The current committee, unveiled less than three months ago, has operated without an official head, with each member holding an equal vote.Wahab Riaz, who previously served as chair, is unlikely to regain that role if it is recreated. There is growing frustration within the PCB, including from Riaz himself, over the perception that he wields undue influence as the de facto head of the committee. His departure from the committee altogether remains a possibility.The review will also consider the future of Babar Azam as captain. Despite the emotional fallout from Pakistan's World Cup exit, the PCB is not expected to make an immediate decision. Pakistan's next white-ball match is not scheduled until November.Head coach Gary Kirsten's feedback will be crucial in the review process. Kirsten, appointed in April after an extensive search, has expressed concerns about the lack of unity within the team. His tour report to the PCB could shape the direction of future changes.If no public announcements are made by the time players' central contracts expire on June 30, revisions to the contracts could indicate further changes to the national setup. Players can be moved up or down in categories or even dropped altogether based on their performances. Currently, Babar, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are in the highest category.