PCB set to dissolve selection panel

The PCB is set to dissolve the existing national selection committee headed by Haroon Rasheed before Pakistan starts its campaign in the ICC World Twenty20 in India.

Published : Mar 08, 2016 23:15 IST

Shaharyar Khan is not in favour of retaining the current group of selectors, led by Haroon Rasheed.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to dissolve the existing national selection committee headed by Haroon Rasheed before Pakistan starts its campaign in the ICC World Twenty20 in India. According to a well-informed source, a meeting of the inquiry committee formed by the board to probe the reasons for the team’s poor showing in the Asia Cup will take place in Lahore on Thursday.

“Indications are that as soon as the inquiry committee holds its first meeting the selection committee will be dissolved by the board,” the source said.

He said PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan had made it clear he was not in favour of retaining the present selection committee as he was not satisfied with its working since the World Cup last year. “All the selectors including Haroon, Saleem Jaffer, Kabir Khan and Azhar Khan have been conveyed their tenures are now over,” the source said.

The question of Haroon Rasheed

He said the main question now is whether Haroon, a former Test batsman and known to be close to the second most powerful person in the board, Najam Sethi, will be given some other posting in the board or will be relieved of his contract. “Haroon is trying to get his posting back in the National Cricket Academy and is even keen to work as manager of the national team. Shaharyar is not in favour of giving him any major assignment,” the source said.

The names of former stalwarts Wasim Bari, Iqbal Qasim and Salahuddin Ahmed, who have all served as chief selector in the past are being mentioned as possible candidates to be appointed to head the new selection committee.

The selectors have come under fire since Pakistan’s listless show in the Asia Cup. “The inquiry committee’s terms of reference are also to assess the performance of the selection committee,” another source said.