PCB appoint Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali and Hasan Cheema as voting members of Selection Committee

[Rana]

As per news reports:

Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Aleem Dar are likely to be removed from the selection committee.

Poor guys paying the price for Rizwan’s dumb selections for the CT

 

[BouncerGuy]

Poor guys paying the price for Rizwan’s dumb selections for the CT

So azhar ali, asad and aleem had nothing to say in selections and rizwan selected the whole squad alone???

LOL

 

[Deewana Mastana]

So azhar ali, asad and aleem had nothing to say in selections and rizwan selected the whole squad alone???

LOL

Azhar and Asad need to be involved in the U-19's and lower and work along with the kids coming through if any.

Working with them on the techniques in this day and age where things are evolving rapidly.

 

[Ball Blazer]

PCB to Overhaul Selection Committee: Reports​

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly decided to reshape its national selection committee, replacing former Test cricketers Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq with Sarfaraz Ahmed, the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy-winning captain, and veteran cricket analyst Sikandar Bakht. Bakht is known for his critical views on PCB policies.

Sources indicate that Sarfaraz, currently in England, participated in a recent selection committee meeting via video conference, while Bakht was called to Lahore for the same. This meeting, which also included head coach Mike Hesson, captain Salman Ali Agha, and selectors Aaqib Javed and Aleem Dar, finalized the Pakistan squads for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh next month and the T20Is against the West Indies in the USA.

Though the PCB has yet to make an official announcement regarding these appointments or the specific roles of Sarfaraz Ahmed and Sikandar Bakht, both have now attended two consecutive selection committee meetings. Conversely, Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have been excluded from these discussions.

As per reports, Azhar Ali has been assigned to youth development programs, while Asad Shafiq is now focused on his responsibilities at the Karachi High Performance Centre and with the Women’s Selection Committee.

The PCB is keen to utilize Sarfaraz Ahmed's cricketing insight and the respect he commands among players, considering him for multiple roles since his retirement from active cricket. Sikandar Bakht's inclusion marks his return to the PCB after serving as team analyst in 2003, and he is reportedly a trusted associate of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

PCB officials have reportedly confirmed that Chairman Naqvi will provide further details once offices reopen.

 

[Rana]

As per reports, Azhar Ali has been assigned to youth development programs, while Asad Shafiq is now focused on his responsibilities at the Karachi High Performance Centre and with the Women’s Selection Committee.

No wonder the most effeminate of the lot is assigned women’s duties!

 

[cricfan432]

Usman hashmi replaces hasan cheema as analyst, rest of the comittee remains unchanged.

Hasan cheema shouldve been retained

 

[RidiculousMan]

Usman hashmi replaces hasan cheema as analyst, rest of the comittee remains unchanged.

Hasan cheema shouldve been retained

Usman is the nepo analyst right?

 

[Rana]

Usman hashmi replaces hasan cheema as analyst, rest of the comittee remains unchanged.

Hasan cheema shouldve been retained

Most likely Cheema will be traveling with the team now

 

[Rana]

“The selector Aleem Dar, who resigned from @TheRealPCB, wanted that if Babar Azam and Shadab Khan can return to the team without performance, then it should be tried to play the experienced @iMRizwanPak at number six in place of wicketkeeper Usman Khan!”


Dar can …. Off for all I care.


What’s this? A charity?? If you are doing favours for some $hit players you do it do all $hit players??

 

[Kianig89]

The whole of selection committee should be sacked with immediate effect, how many tourneys theyve lost Asia Cup , WT20. They've lived their life. Reports that Sarfraz Ahmed to become chief selector

 

[Kianig89]

Aleem Dar resigns due to the nexus of AAQIB & Hesson.

He was of the view Babar Shadab and Usman were not selected on merit and that Muhammad Rizwan should have been included.

 

[Rana]

Aleem Dar resigns due to the nexus of AAQIB & Hesson.

He was of the view Babar Shadab and Usman were not selected on merit and that Muhammad Rizwan should have been included.

We can listen to the report and see your misreporting at the same time.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Appointing an umpire as a selector was always an incredibly dumb thing to do. Never in my life have I heard a board appoint a former umpire as a selector. Also, the reasoning going around in the media is absolutely laughable if true. He didn't want Babar in the team because he wasn't selected on merit, but he did want Rizwan?? How does that work? You can't not stand for one thing but stand for the other. Rizwan's recent performances and numbers are even worse than Babar.

Selection committees don't work in Pakistan. Just appoint one chief-selector and have him and the coach decide on the team after consulting with the captain. It's not rocket science. When has a selection committee ever worked in Pakistan? It always leads to one or more people having a difference of opinion with the others and resigning.

 

[BouncerGuy]

AS PER REPORTS:

Aleem Dar has resigned from Pakistan’s men’s national selection committee, with local media reporting that he was unhappy with the panel’s internal functioning. Appointed in October 2024 alongside Aaqib Javed, Azhar Ali, and analyst Hasan Cheema, Dar stepped down on March 3, 2026, following Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup.

Reports suggest Dar felt sidelined in meetings as head coach Mike Hesson’s influence grew, leaving discussions unbalanced. He opposed the inclusion of Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and Usman Khan in the World Cup squad, instead advocating for Mohammad Rizwan at No. 6. With Javed often backing the coach and Misbah-ul-Haq staying quiet, Dar felt isolated and ignored. His departure is seen as the first casualty of Pakistan’s disappointing campaign, which has put pressure on selectors, captain Salman Agha, and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

 

[Rana]

Sarfaraz new head coach?

What’s going on here?

Hesson is fine!

 

[Rana]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029119296844996777

Didn’t want Babar or Shadab….

But wanted Rizwan at 6? Make this make sense? Why resign after the World Cup and not before it if you are so peeved about the selection?

What did Rizwan do at 6 anywhere? He was forced/retired out eventually by his skipper at 4. He was playing at 5-6 in his CPL side and there was a game where he wasn’t even sent out to bat in a chase of 180!

WTH does Rizwan have on these guys?? What is the crime of honest Pakistan players struggling in these batting positions in domestics??

 

[Josh]

With Mohammad Rizwan sidelined from the Pakistan T20 World Cup squad, the team sorely missed his stabilizing presence.

Players could have turned to him as a source of religious and spiritual strength; he carries a distinct religious aura. He could have also guided Salman Ali Agha, helping him avoid those costly blunders of decisions.

On the field, Rizwan's sharp plans—like yelling "yes is a two!" to convert singles into doubles ... would have added crucial runs and momentum.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

 

[BouncerGuy]

Saeed Ajmal speaking during a TV show:

“Sarfaraz was already padded in by PCB [as mentor of Pakistan Shaheens and U19], and Misbah-ul-Haq was already on PCB’s payroll. So, they said, “Why bring someone from outside? Let’s use these two.” It’s not confirmed if Misbah-ul-Haq was taking double salary; what’s certain is that he was definitely on PCB’s salary.”

About reports that Sarfaraz Ahmed is being made Test head coach:

“The truth is, the ones before Sarfaraz didn’t do anything either. So why not give him a chance? He was a good player for Pakistan, served as captain, and if he’s willing, he deserves the opportunity. Foreign coaches are often brought in because it’s just the “white skin” factor. People don’t argue with them. They keep control, they plan, while we only spy. They know how to strategize; we only know how to quarrel.”

About Aaqib Javed and Asad Shafiq being the selectors:

“They should reflect on their last T20 selections. Were those right? If not, they need to think seriously. They played great cricket themselves, yet couldn’t identify proper team balance. A proper team requires two all-rounders, two middle-order batters, two or three openers, one or two keepers, four or five bowlers, including fast bowlers and spinners. That’s how you mix and match. But they picked a one-dimensional team, especially in batting, so defeat was inevitable.”

“Hearing 250 runs, our players mentally lose before even stepping on the ground. They give up too early. On batting wickets, you’re supposed to fight back, but they surrender. True defeat is when you’re beaten on the field, not when you give up beforehand.”

“That’s what I admire about Australia. If they have 1 run off 25 balls, they say, “You must score it, and we won’t give it away.” They fight till the end. A match ends only when the umpire declares it finished. Otherwise, it’s still alive. So don’t raise your hands 50 runs before the end. Cricket is unpredictable—two or three overs can change everything. Pakistan has collapsed like that, too.”

About Salman Ali Agha as the T20 captain and Mike Hesson:

“We’ll keep sitting here, results will keep repeating. Sure, you can beat Nepal, the Netherlands, or Canada. But when it comes to big teams, you simply can’t compete. Against India, we’ve been 3 steps behind, not once, not twice—three times.”