Pakistan Cricket Board forms new selection committee

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a significant reformation of the men’s national selection committee, introducing a revamped lineup featuring esteemed voting members such as Aleem Dar, Aqib Javed, and Azhar Ali.

The previous committee featured Asad Shafiq and Hasan Cheema, but the head coaches and captains of both formats are not part of the newly formed committee.

This significant change follows the resignation of former captain Mohammad Yousuf, which prompted the board to expand the selection committee to enhance decision-making processes.

Asad Shafiq will continue in his role as a selector, working alongside the head coach to ensure consistency within the committee’s operations. This restructured committee will have the crucial task of selecting the squad for the remaining two Test matches against England and also for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia, with the official announcement expected next week.

The announcement comes on the heels of a disheartening performance by the national team, which recently suffered a humiliating defeat against England in the first Test match at Multan.

Pakistan, after opting to bat first, amassed a formidable total of 556 runs. However, their bowling attack faltered dramatically, conceding a staggering 823 runs—marking only the fourth-highest total in Test cricket history. The English team excelled, driven by a record-breaking partnership of 454 runs between Joe Root and Harry Brook, the highest ever for England in Test matches.

This latest loss marks a new low for the Pakistan team, as it is the first instance in Test history where a team has lost by an innings despite scoring over 500 runs in their first innings. The defeat further extends Pakistan's recent dismal streak, with the team now having lost six consecutive matches under the captaincy of Shan Masood.

Their struggles began with a 0-3 series defeat against Australia and were compounded by a historic 0-2 loss at home to Bangladesh, representing their first-ever Test defeat against the Bangladeshi side. The latest setback against England places Pakistan at a 0-1 deficit in the ongoing three-match series.