Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan head coach cum chief selector Misbahul Haq could be asked to relinquish his role as chief selector after the team returns from England as the cricket authorities are considering appointing a new person for the job. According to a media report, a high-profile former fast bowler is under consideration to replace Misbah as the chief selector. “The PCB now feels that it is best if the burden was reduced on Misbah and allow him to focus on his job as head coach as there are a number of important ICC events coming up in the next three years,” the report added.

“Wasim Khan, the PCB CEO, is in England recently and has also observed from close quarters how Misbah is handling both responsibilities. Wasim also spoke to Misbah in England and having a new chief selector is now an option for the board. When Misbah was initially appointed as head coach and chief selector last year, the first person in Pakistan cricket history to be given this dual role, there was skepticism whether the former captain would be able to do justice to both responsibilities.” The report said that the option of having a new chief selector was also under consideration because the board wanted to inject more life into the selection process.

“A former fast bowler known for his outspoken comments and who was a big star in his playing days is under consideration and after the England series is over things will be finalized with him.” The report said said the board had closely watched the selection process for the Tests in England and felt that Misbah had not handled the pressure well. “The feeling is that in the third Test where a fifth bowler should have been played and also one pacer rotated, Misbah came under pressure from the social media and media and retained Fawad Alam in the playing eleven.”

The PCB also recently inducted three new members on the national selection committee including former Test players Basit Ali, Faisal Iqbal and Abdul Razzaq. The report also confirmed that there was no danger to the captaincy tenure of Azhar Ali at least for the next few months. “All this talk about him being removed as captain after the series is not happening because he has been appointed captain for 12 months by the PCB. So after the England series Azhar has the opportunity to play in domestic cricket and get back his form and carry on as captain. Similarly the board has also given Babar Azam a 12-month tenure as captain of the white ball formats. Babar’s tenure is more important as Pakistan prepares for the coming World Cups in T20 and 50-over formats.”