ISLAMABAD: After the humiliating exit from the World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), after announcing Muhammad Hafeez as Director and Head Coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team, made another announcement of appointing former international cricketer and speedster Wahab Riaz as the new chief selector of the national men’s selection committee.
Last Wednesday, the PCB also announced Shaheen Afridi and Shan Masood as the caption of T20 and Test Cricket after Babar Azam resigned as captain from all three formats.
Wahab Riaz would occupy the vacant slot as former skipper and maestro Inzamam ul Haq resigned from the post on October 30 after “conflict of interest” allegations were levelled against him.
Wahab Riaz has represented Pakistan in 27 Tests, 90 ODIs, and 36 T20Is, and he was also attached as an active player with Peshawar Zalmi till recent times. This would be his first assignment on the management level with the PCB, where his first challenge would be selecting the team for a tough Australia tour for a three-match Test series to be started from December 14.
Australia tour would follow the five-match T20I series against Kiwis from 12 to January 21, 2024, in New Zealand.
Wahab Riaz’s Appointment as Chief Selector
Expressing his views on his appointment, the new chief selector, Wahab Riaz, thanked the PCB Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf and reaffirmed his commitment to work for the betterment of the Pakistani team according to modern techniques and requirements.
Wahab Riaz also showed his resilience, adding that he and the newly-appointed Director of cricket, Mohammad Hafeez, would work closely for the success of Pakistan cricket. He further said that the performance of the players would also be judged via domestic cricket to ensure a well-rounded and balanced squad.
The development comes as part of a major reshuffle in the team’s leadership, coaching, and management staff following the team’s poor performance in the World Cup, where the Green Shirts failed to qualify for the semi-final.
Later, the board made several decisions, including replacing Mickey Arthur with Muhammad Hafeez. Other foreign coaching staff have been directed to report to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
