PCB Cricket Committee to take a call on split captaincy and new coach

Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Cricket Committee is set to take some big decisions when it meets later this month to discuss Pakistan’s performance in the recently-concluded World Cup. Pakistan, the reigning ICC Champions Trophy winners, exited the World Cup at the group stage. The Men in Green started the tournament horribly and paid a hefty price for it. They managed to win just one of their opening five matches which eventually close the semifinal doors for them.

Sarfaraz Ahmed did manage to motivate his players for the second half of the tournament but it was too late by then. Pakistan beat South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh in their last four games but it was just not enough. They were level on points with New Zealand but the latter qualified for the semifinal due to better net run-rate. Before the World Cup too, Pakistan’s form was awful as they lost series against South Africa, Australia and England. In fact, they were whitewashed by Australia and lost 4-0 to England.

Big changes in line

If reports are to be believed then splitting the captaincy and inviting fresh applications for the national team coach and other support staff are some of the topics that the Cricket Committee will discuss during the meeting. According to reports in CricketNext, the meeting is likely to take place on July 29. The meeting would have taken place earlier but was delayed since former captain Misbah-ul-Haq, one of the members of the panel, had plans to travel to the USA on personal work.

“If he travels, then he will attend the meeting via video link and if he is in Lahore he will be present in person,” a source was quoted as saying by the news outlet.

The reports further claimed that current coach Mickey Arthur will not get any extension and will have to re-apply for the post. The source said that the PCB has also started making inquiries about potential candidates for the support staff. The Pakistan board is impressed by ex-Zimbabwe captain and former England head coach Andy Flower.

“The PCB is impressed with the work done by Flower as a coach and then at the England Cricket Board’s academy behind the scenes to build a strong ODI squad which went on to win the World Cup,” the source said.