A period of change started in the Pakistan cricket team after the 20-20 World Cup 2022 and Pakistan’s 3-0 Test series loss to England on home soil in December 2022. After Pakistan’s 3-0 drubbing to England in the Test series, Ramiz Raja lost his chair; and after that, Najam Sethi was made the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. After Sethi became the chairman, Shahid Afridi was made the interim chief selector. But now, a new selector has been appointed in place of Afridi. Sethi also hinted towards reviewing the policies of the board but as of now, he has removed Afridi from the body.
Pakistan Cricket Board’s chairman Sethi on Monday announced the appointment of former Test cricketer Haroon Rasheed as the new national men’s team chief selector. Haroon represented Pakistan in 23 Tests and 12 ODIs and was also a member of the Shahid Afridi-led interim selection committee appointed only for the home ODI series against New Zealand.
I am in direct negotiations with Mickey: Najam Sethi
Meanwhile, Sethi also made it clear that compromises with Micky Arthur were still going on. And in the next two or three days, a final announcement would be made on the new head coach role of the Pakistan team. Arthur was also head coach of Pakistan between 2016 and 2019, and his contract was not extended after the 2019 50-over World Cup by the Ehsan Mani-led management.
“I want to make it clear I am in direct negotiations with Mickey and I think 90 per cent of the discussions. We have covered many areas and very soon we may give you good news. If Mickey comes he will be making his own team and we will only find how much we need to pay them and this matter will be resolved in 2-3 days.” Sethi was quoted as saying by NDTVSports.
As of now, Rasheed will step down from his current role as a member of the PCB Management Committee to pursue his new role in the organization. Ramiz Raja in particular had been extremely vocal after he was removed as PCB chief. Raja claimed that he had turned Pakistan’s cricket into a brand and there was no valid reason for his removal. Raja also said that the Indian Cricket Board was jealous of Pakistan cricket and hence they planned to boycott the 2023 edition of the Asia Cup that is scheduled to be played in Pakistan.
