PCB appoint Shahid Afridi as interim chief selector for national team

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee on Saturday appointed former captain and iconic all-rounder Shahid Afridi as the interim Chair of the Men’s National Selection Committee. The decision comes after Pakistan's underwhelming performances in red-ball cricket which saw them lose successive home Test series against Australia and England this year.

Other members of this panel include Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum. Meanwhile, Haroon Rashid will be the Convener. 

PCB Management Committee has appointed former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi as the interim Chair of the Men’s National Selection Committee. Other members of the panel are: Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum. Haroon Rashid will be the Convener.

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The stint for the new committee will begin with effect from the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand starting Monday, December 26. The opening Test will be played at the National Bank Arena in Karachi.

I feel honoured to have been assigned this responsibility by the PCB Management Committee: Shahid Afridi

“I feel honoured to have been assigned this responsibility by the PCB Management Committee and will no stone unturned in fulfilling this responsibility to the best of my abilities,” said Shahid Afridi as quoted as saying in PCB press release.

“We need to get back to our winning ways and I have no doubts that through meritocratic and strategic selection decisions, we will help the national side to perform strongly in the series against New Zealand and reclaim the confidence of our fans,” he added.

“I will soon convene a meeting of the selectors and will share my plans with reference to the upcoming matches,” said the ex-skipper.

Meanwhile, this will also be Pakistan's first international assignment under the newly elected PCB Chairman Najam Sethi. Sethi replaced the 1992 World Cup winner Ramiz Raja who was sacked just days after Pakistan's humiliating 0-3 whitewash in the home Test series against the Ben Stokes-led England side. 

Pakistan who are already out of the WTC final race would now be looking to salvage pride by winning the upcoming Test series against the Kiwis.