Pakistan’s newly appointed white-ball captain, Muhammad Rizwan, has acquiesced to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) revised selection policy, which eliminates his voting privileges in the selection of touring squads and playing elevens. This decision comes after initial hesitation from Rizwan.
According to a source within the PCB, Rizwan agreed to the new system after discussions with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and senior selector Aaqib Javed. Under this system, Rizwan’s input in the selection process will be purely advisory.
The PCB’s new selection policy was implemented following Pakistan’s humiliating defeat against England in the first Test in Multan. The board appointed three new selectors – Aaqib, Azhar Ali, and Aleem Dar – and granted them sweeping powers to select teams without the consent of the captain or head coach.
Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, Gary Kirsten, resigned on Monday due to his disagreement with the new selection process and other issues with the PCB.
The PCB has assured Rizwan that he will be consulted in finalizing teams, but the ultimate decision will rest with the five selectors. The selection committee is now responsible for selecting touring squads and playing elevens.
To ensure effective communication, the PCB is sending national selector Asad Shafiq with the team to Australia for the white-ball matches. Shafiq will consult with the other selectors in Pakistan to select the playing eleven.
