PCB appoints Mohammad Wasim as chief selector

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Mohammad Wasim has been appointed as the Chairman of the Pakistan men’s national selection committee, while Saleem Yousuf has been confirmed as the Chair of the PCB Cricket Committee. To ensure consistency and continuity, both have been appointed till the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

The appointments were approved by the PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani following the final round of online interviews, which were held on Thursday and Friday.

Mohammad Wasim’s first assignment will be to select the Pakistan side for the two Tests and three T20Is series against South Africa around mid-January, while the PCB Cricket Committee’s first meeting of 2021 will be held in Karachi in the lead up to the first Test, which will start at the National Stadium from 26 January.

The 43-year-old Wasim is presently head coach of the Northern Cricket Association, which is second on the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy points table behind Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Last season, his side won the National T20 Cup and finished runners-up in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

By virtue of being the head coach of the Northern Cricket Association, Wasim was a member of Misbahul Haq’s selection panel until 30 November.

Wasim will assume charge of his new responsibilities following the conclusion of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, whose five-day final will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi from 1 January 2021.

There is no change to the composition of the selection committee and head coaches of the six first XI Cricket Association sides will continue to serve on the panel. As and when Wasim’s replacement as the Northern Cricket Association head coach has been confirmed, he will join the selection committee as the sixth member.

Saleem Yousuf last served the PCB as a member of the national selection committee from 2013-2015. The former wicketkeeper-batsman will head the panel that presently includes Ali Naqvi (match officials’ representative), Umar Gul (current cricketers’ representative), Urooj Mumtaz (women cricketers’ representative), and Wasim Akram (former cricketers’ representative).

The PCB Cricket Committee’s remit is to advice the PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani on cricket-related matters, including but not limited to the performances of the national cricket teams and their managements, domestic cricket structure, high-performance centres and playing conditions.

The Committee has the powers to invite relevant personnel for its quarterly meetings to assist as part of its evaluation, assessment and recommendation process.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan: “We are delighted to confirm the appointments of two high-quality individuals as Chair of the Selection and PCB Cricket Committees. Both will serve for an initial three-year period till the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

“Mohammad Wasim and Saleem Yousuf have sound knowledge of cricket, understand the rigours and demands of the modern game and are highly respected across the cricket fraternity. Both the gentlemen are also aligned to the PCB’s five-year strategic pillar of strengthening our merit and opportunity-based domestic structure, as well as improving our international rankings across all formats.

“Wasim’s appointment is also part of our strategy to groom, develop and provide leadership opportunities to our talented cricketers. After retiring from competitive cricket, Wasim has progressed through the ranks, having previously worked as a match referee, coach and selector.

“He is young, progressive and bold thinker who is in sync with our new High Performance Player Framework, and is one of very few people who are completely aware of the pool of talented cricketers available at the domestic level.

“Saleem Yousuf was an intelligent, courageous and aggressive cricketer who served Pakistan with distinction. While he has built a strong professional career outside of the game, he has continued to maintain a huge interest in both our domestic and international cricket.

“Under Saleem’s leadership, we will have a fresh, objective and constructive approach to all aspects of our game and the PCB Cricket Committee looks forward to putting up strong recommendations to the PCB Chairman on how we can continue to improve Pakistan cricket.”

Mohammad Wasim: “I have been very fortunate to have played with some of the finest cricketers and am confident that I will be able to execute those learnings in this challenging role.

“We have a busy 2021 year ahead and I will focus on being positive on selections that not only address our short-term needs but also fulfil our long-term ambitions. We have immense talent in Pakistan and it is important that they are given opportunities.

“This is a performance-oriented world and, as such, my philosophy will be to promote meritocracy and select squads according to home and international conditions and requirements. As a chief selector, I will always be willing to make the hard calls, if these are in the best interest of Pakistan cricket.

“I look forward to working closely with head coach Misbahul Haq and captain Babar Azam as we collectively strive to take Pakistan cricket forward.”

Saleem Yousuf: “It is an honour to chair the group, which boasts some highly respected and knowledgeable people.

“The objective of this panel is to evaluate, analyse and assess cricket-related matters and then make recommendations to the PCB Chairman on how Pakistan cricket can improve, strengthen and move forward.

“With the support of my colleagues on this committee, I look forward to making a significant contribution so that we can continue to move Pakistan cricket forward.”

About Mohammad Wasim

•           Hails from Rawalpindi and turned 43 on 8 August

•           Played 18 Tests and 25 ODIs from 1996 to 2000. Scored 783 Test runs, including a century on debut, and 543 ODI runs

•           Played 194 first-class matches from 1994 to 2011, scoring 10,074 runs

•           Member of Pakistan side that won the 1996/1997 tri-series in Australia that also included the West Indies

•           Also played cricket in New Zealand and the Netherlands

•           Appointed Sweden men’s national team coach in 2018

•           Appointed Northern Cricket Association coach and member selection committee in 2019

About Saleem Yousuf

•           Hails from Karachi and turned 61 on 7 December

•           Played 32 Tests and 86 ODIs from 1982-1990. Scored 1,055 Test and 768 ODI runs. Dismissed 104 batsmen in Tests and 103 batsmen in ODIs

•           Played first-class cricket from 1978-1996 for five sides. Scored 4,578 runs and dismissed 339 batsmen

•           Played in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 1987, which was hosted by India and Pakistan

•           Member of the Pakistan sides that beat India in India in 1986 and England in England in 1987, and won the Nehru Cup in India in 1989

•           Served as assistant manager and coach of the Pakistan side for the 1996 World Cup 

•           Served as a member of the junior selection committee in 2003

•           Served as a national selector from 2013-2015.