Shahid Afridi appointed as Pakistan’s interim chief selector

Pakistan Cricket Board management committee appointed former captain Shahid Afridi as the interim Chair of the Men’s National Selection Committee. The decision comes after Pakistan’s underwhelming performances in red-ball cricket. The team lost successive home Test series against Australia and England this year.

Other members of this panel include Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum. Meanwhile, Haroon Rashid will be the Convener.

The stint for the new committee will begin with effect from the upcoming two-match Test series against NZ. The opening Test will be played at the National Bank Arena in Karachi.

I feel honoured to have been assigned this responsibility by the PCB Management Committee: Shahid Afridi

“I feel honoured to have been assigned this responsibility by the PCB Management Committee and will no stone unturned in fulfilling this responsibility to the best of my abilities,” said Shahid Afridi as quoted as saying in PCB press release.

“We need to get back to our winning ways and I have no doubts that through meritocratic and strategic selection decisions, we will help the national side to perform strongly in the series against New Zealand and reclaim the confidence of our fans,” he added.

“I will soon convene a meeting of the selectors and will share my plans with reference to the upcoming matches,” said the ex-skipper.

Meanwhile, this will also be Pakistan’s first international assignment under the newly elected PCB Chairman Najam Sethi. Najam Sethi replaced the 1992 World Cup winner Ramiz Raja. Raja, who was sacked just days after Pakistan’s humiliating 0-3 whitewash against the England side.

Pakistan are already out of the WTC final race. But, they would now be looking to salvage pride by winning the upcoming Test series against the Kiwis.