NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee is set to undergo significant changes following the team's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup.
A thorough review will be conducted to identify the shortcomings, with a focus on streamlining the selection process, IANS quoted an ESPNcricinfo report on Thursday.
The current seven-member committee, operating without an official head, is likely to be reduced in size. The PCB may also abandon its recent experiment of a leaderless selection process, which was implemented just three months ago when Wahab Riaz was removed from his role as chair but remained a member.
The setup, based on equal votes and majority decisions, has come under scrutiny, with frustrations growing within the PCB, including from Wahab himself, who feels he is unfairly perceived as the unofficial leader and bears the brunt of criticism.
As a result, Wahab's complete departure from the committee is a strong possibility, as PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi aims to demonstrate that no one is immune to consequences.
Despite the turmoil, a decision on Babar Azam's captaincy is not expected immediately, as Pakistan's next white-ball match is not until November. The review process will incorporate feedback from several management members who accompanied the team, with head coach Gary Kirsten's input holding significant weight.
Kirsten, appointed in April, has reportedly expressed concerns about the team's lack of unity, and his report to the PCB will likely influence the outcome of the review.
Furthermore, the upcoming revisions to players' central contracts, set to expire on June 30, may signal additional changes to the national setup. Although a landmark three-year contract agreement was reached last year, individual players' positions can be adjusted based on performance.
Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi currently hold the highest category contracts, but their standings could be reevaluated in light of recent performances.
