Appointment Announcement
Legendary fast bowler Waqar Younis has been appointed as an Advisor to the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). According to PCB sources, Waqar will oversee cricket affairs for the board and will begin his duties starting August 1. He will report directly to Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the PCB.
Role and Responsibilities
Waqar Younis, 52, a former Pakistan captain and coach with 87 Tests and 262 ODIs to his credit, has been tasked with overseeing the national teams and their coaches. He will manage both the red-ball and white-ball squads, with coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie reporting to him. Additionally, Waqar will work closely with the selection committee, which has recently come under scrutiny.
Selection Committee Controversy
The PCB recently dismissed selectors Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz from the selection committee. The primary reason for their removal was controversy over team selection for the recent Twenty20 World Cup, where Pakistan failed to advance to the knockout stage after a defeat to the USA. According to reports, the selectors were dismissed for “promotion and selection of certain players despite reservations from other members.”
Additional Duties and Future Outlook
Waqar Younis’s responsibilities will also include addressing any matters deemed appropriate by the PCB chairman. Although initially hired as a consultant, his services are expected to be regularized. His role will be similar to that of Rob Key, the managing director of the men’s team for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Waqar’s appointment comes at a crucial time for Pakistan cricket, with public dissatisfaction over the team’s recent performance in the World Cup. He is the first international cricketer given key responsibilities since Zakir Khan’s departure from the board.
Broader Impact and Strategic Goals
Waqar will also supervise domestic cricket, the high-performance centre, coaches, and curators. He will be involved in planning, strategizing, and game development. This appointment aims to relieve the PCB chairman of crucial cricketing matters, allowing him to focus on governance, infrastructure, administration, commercial agreements, and the future of cricket.
Upcoming Cricket Season
The Pakistan cricket season begins in August and will run continuously until the Champions Trophy, followed by a tour of New Zealand. The PCB chairman believed that an experienced individual who understands the language of cricketers and is capable of making the right decisions was essential, leading to Waqar’s appointment.
In summary, Waqar Younis’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to enhance the performance and management of Pakistan’s cricket teams, addressing both current challenges and future opportunities.