PCB clarifies only one change in national selection committee

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday confirmed that only one change has been made to the national men’s selection committee, which otherwise remains ‘intact’.

In an official statement, the board clarified that data analyst Hassan Cheema has been replaced by Usman Hashmi, who will assist the selection committee but will not have any voting rights during team selection.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the national selection committee remains intact,” the statement read.

A PCB spokesperson added, “The Board has only replaced the data analyst, who will have no voting right during team selection. Hassan Cheema has been replaced by Usman Hashmi as the data analyst to assist the selection committee.”

The rest of the selection panel remains unchanged, including former interim head coach Aaqib Javed, umpire Aleem Dar, and former cricketers Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq — all of whom hold voting rights.

Members of the national selection committee:

• Aaqib Javed (Member)
• Aleem Dar (Member)
• Asad Shafiq (Member)
• Azhar Ali (Member)

The PCB also stated that the committee will remain bound to consult with the head coach and captain of the respective teams before finalizing any squad.

This statement came in response to recent media reports claiming a major reshuffle in the committee was expected, which included the possible removal of Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.

Reports had suggested that former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and cricket analyst Sikandar Bakht — known for frequently criticizing PCB policies — were being considered as replacements.