PCB appoints Muhammad Wasim as chief selector

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Muhammad Wasim as the Chairman of the Pakistan men’s national selection committee, while Saleem Yousuf has been confirmed as the head of the PCB Cricket Committee, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday. The TV channel was the first to break the news about these appointments a few days ago.

Both the former cricketers have been appointed till the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which aims at ensuring consistency and continuity.

Wasim’s first assignment will be to select the Pakistan side for the two Tests and three T20Is series against South Africa around mid-January, while the PCB Cricket Committee’s first meeting of 2021 will be held in Karachi in the lead up to the first Test, which will start at the National Stadium from 26 January.

File photo of Saleem Yousuf.

The 43-year-old Wasim is presently head coach of the Northern Cricket Association, which is second on the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy points table behind Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Last season, his side won the National T20 Cup and finished runners-up in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Wasim will assume charge of his new responsibilities following the conclusion of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, whose five-day final will be played at the National Stadium in Karachi from 1 January, 2021.

There is no change to the composition of the selection committee and head coaches of the six first XI Cricket Association sides will continue to serve on the panel. As and when Wasim’s replacement as the Northern Cricket Association head coach has been confirmed, he will join the selection committee as the sixth member.

Saleem Yousuf last served the PCB as a member of the national selection committee from 2013-2015. The former wicketkeeper-batsman will head the panel that presently includes Ali Naqvi, Umar Gul, Urooj Mumtaz and Wasim Akram.