PCB announced a seven-member selection committee

By AZ Khan
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday unveiled a seven-member national selection committee which will handle the selection affairs of both Pakistan’s men’s national senior and under-19 cricket teams.
However unlike in the past there will be no chairman selection committee and the committee will decide selection matters on the basis of majority after thorough discussion on various selection-related matters.
The committee will also decide who will lead Pakistan team during the country’s home T20I series against New Zealand and onwards events also including the ICC T20 World Cup which will be jointly hosted by the US and the West Indies.
This was announced by the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi at a news conference here at the Board’s headquarters. Just before holding the news conference the PCB issued a press release announcing the dissolution of the previous selection committee.
Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdur Razzaq, Asad Shafique, captain, head coach and a data analyst will be part of the selection committee.
“We have reorganized the selection committee. There will be no chairman and they will decide the matters on the basis of majority so that we could reach to a good conclusion,” Mohsin Naqvi said.
“I assure you that we have worked properly on every member of the selection committee. There should be no involvement of the PCB chairman in the selection matters. We will manage the things. They are professionals, they have to decide the things and I hope they will give you good results,” Naqvi said.
Naqvi said that the two-week camp will begin in Kakul from Monday (today) for which players have already been finalized.
“The camp will help in the team bonding and physical fitness,” Naqvi was quick to add.
“We are working on coaches’ recruitment and when the things will be made final we will come and intimate you. There are drawbacks of sharing advanced information. We were negotiating with a coach and we were yet at the primary stages of communication but on media it was hugely exaggerated which forced the coach to flee,” he said.
“Just wait for a few days and I hope you will get a dream coaching team,” he said.
“We are making a proper coaching panel, the things are in the final stage and it will be a combination of foreign and Pakistani coaches and hopefully that coaching panel will deliver,” Naqvi said.
Asked whether any condition has been decided with Imad Wasim who reconsidered his retirement Naqvi said there is only World Cup requirement.
“Everyone thinks that team should be strong. We have just straightaway told Imad to come and play. There is nothing discussed about NOC. We will not give any NOC. Its for all players. They should play for the country,” he said.
He said that Haris Rauf’s central contract has been restored.
“We have also received a letter from Haris Rauf which we have also forwarded to the tribunal. He has written that it was misunderstanding and a bit wrong decision was made and we have restored his contract,” Naqvi said.
“As he had got injured and it was an issue that who will treat him and now his treatment will be covered by our insurance as he is our star player and looking after him was very important for us,” he said
“The exchequer will be spent on players and cricket. If there is money, then better coaches should come and money should be spent on cricket development. I will be happy if I leave the PCB exchequer empty but I assure you that the money will be spent for the development of cricket,” Naqvi said.
He made it clear that there will be no relaxation for any players relating to playing in the foreign leagues and things will be done on the basis of the provisions of the central contracts.
“Even if some cricketers react but we will not listen to them and will go by central contracts provisions,” he clarified when asked will cricketers be given NOCs for playing extra foreign leagues.
He assured that in his era as the PCB chief there will be less space for parachuters.

Naqvi said he will be doing things on long-term basis.
“I am going to do certain things whose impact will be seen after five years irrespective of the fact whether I will get its credit or not. If long-term things are made okay then the 1990s team will return. Now we are to do the things in the available resources. We cannot correct everything overnight but I assure you that we will work hard and God will give result,” Naqvi said.
“Work is being done on captain. Now selection committee has come and will decide with consensus about the future skipper,” he said.
“We will also discuss with this selection committee coaches. It will also decide about the captain,” he said.
Asked about the inclusion of skipper in the selection committee Naqvi said if chief selector decides the team and gives it to the skipper then it will be a good thing. There should be skipper’s say in the selection matters because he leads the team. And there should be a say of the head coach,” he said.

Naqvi said that the 2025 Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan and they are working for that.
“Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan and if no one has any objection then we should not talk that anyone is coming or not,” he said.
“Even I don’t know about captaincy matter. Let camp to end and whether Shaheen will continue or any new captain comes. I think we will take decision by the end of the camp. We have put in so many technical factors. Whatever will be done effort will be made to ensure it for long-term. We will stick to that decision,” he said.
“As far as PSL is concerned so we are also working on eight teams. Already Salman sahib has started proper working and inshaAllah we will give a good result on that front too,” Naqvi said.
“Our target is to win,” Naqvi said when asked what was his target.
“ICC team is arriving in Pakistan today to see arrangements for the Champions Trophy. We are cooperating with them for holding the event. In the first phase relating to the preparations for the Champions Trophy we are working on the venues at Karachi, Lahore and Pindi,” Naqvi said.
“In the second phase we want to have at least domestic cricket in Quetta and so there is also Peshawar and we are working,” he said.
Naqvi said that he will stand by his selection committee irrespective of the results.
Naqvi said that he would ensure the best physio working with the team.
Asked that why Mohammad Yousuf and Abdur Razzaq have been put in the selection committee when they are more comfortable in coaching Naqvi said they have the experience and there is no substitute to experience.
“These are the people who know players. If I bring in a cricketer of old cadre who does not know players. I think bringing those people are good who know players and their plus and negative points. We will utilize the services of former cricketers but currently this is the best team which we have picked in the shape of selection committee,” Naqvi said.
When asked about women cricket development Naqvi said: “Give me few months and you will see the results.”
To a question regarding Amir’s return Naqvi said that the selection committee will decide.