PCB appoints Shahid Afridi as interim chief selector

F.P. Report

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee on Saturday appointed former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi as interim Chair of the Men’s National Selection Committee for the home series against New Zealand.

 

Other members of the panel include Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, while Haroon Rashid (member Management Committee) will be the convener.

 

The development comes days after the management committee terminated Mohammad Wasim s contract as chief selector of the team.

 

Mr Najam Sethi, Chair of the PCB Management Committee, said: “I welcome the interim Men’s National Selection Committee and have no doubts that despite limited time, they will make brave and bold decisions that will help us produce a strong and competitive side in the series against New Zealand. Shahid Afridi has been an attacking cricketer who played all his cricket with no fear. He has nearly 20 years of cricket experience, has featured in all formats with significant success and more importantly, has always backed and supported young talent. So, in our collective opinion, there is no better person than him to understand the rigours, demands and challenges of the modern day game.

 

“I remain confident that through his insight and knowledge of the game, he will help Pakistan select the best and most deserving players, and contribute in the side’s success in the upcoming series.”

 

Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi said he felt honoured to have been assigned this responsibility by the PCB Management Committee and would leave no stone unturned in fulfilling this responsibility “to the best of my abilities”.

 

Shahid Afridi played 27 Tests, 398 ODIs and 99 T20Is from 1996 to 2018 in which he scored 11,196 runs and took 541 wickets. He also captained the national side in 83 international matches. He was a member of the Pakistan side that won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2009 at Lord’s.