“Pakistan Remove Riaz and Razzaq from Selection Panel After World Cup Disappointment”

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken decisive action in the aftermath of Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the T20 World Cup in the USA, removing Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from their positions in the selection committee.

While the PCB has not officially announced the decision yet, sources indicate that an announcement is imminent. Riaz and Razzaq were part of the seven-member selection committee responsible for picking Pakistan’s squad for the ICC tournament. According to reports, an internal inquiry by the PCB highlighted discrepancies in several decisions made by the committee.

Feedback from various stakeholders, including team management and possibly captain Babar Azam, reportedly influenced the PCB’s decision. There were concerns raised about the selection of certain players despite reservations from other committee members, prompting the board to take action.

“The decision was taken following feedback regarding the promotion and selection of certain players, which was not aligned with the consensus within the committee,” sources familiar with the developments told Cricbuzz.

During the tournament, criticism regarding team selection was voiced by former PCB head Ramiz Raja, who questioned the recall of retired players such as Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir.

Furthermore, Riaz and Razzaq’s participation in the ongoing World Championship of Legends in Birmingham was viewed unfavorably by PCB authorities, given the scrutiny facing the board. This move did not resonate well amidst Pakistan’s World Cup disappointments.

The PCB had announced the selection committee, without a chairman, three months prior. Besides Riaz and Razzaq, the committee included Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, and the respective national team captain and coach, along with data analyst Bilal Afzal to assist with statistical insights.

Pakistan’s World Cup campaign was marred by unexpected losses, including a defeat to hosts USA and a closely contested match against India in New York. Although Pakistan managed victories over Canada and Ireland, they failed to progress beyond the group stage. India and the USA advanced to the Super 8 stage, with India ultimately lifting the trophy under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The removal of Riaz and Razzaq from the selection panel marks a significant development as PCB looks to address the aftermath of their disappointing World Cup outing and prepare for future challenges in international cricket.