New Delhi: A day after the bombshell announcement of Babar Azam’s axing from the remaining England Tests, more drama unfolded in Pakistan cricket as skipper Shan Masood and head coach Jason Gillespie were stripped of selection duties. According to a source, PCB selectors cut down the powers of both the skipper and head coach in selection matters.
A PCB source told PTI that neither the coach nor captain will have a final say in selection matters or even finalising the playing X1.
“The playing eleven for the second Test (against England) has been finalised after consulting Shan and Gillispie but like until the first Test they no longer have final say in the selection of the playing eleven,” the source said.
Another behind-the-scenes power shuffle
Masood and Gillispie were both included in the national selection committee as voting members along with white ball head coach Gary Kirsten in August, but according to the source, things have changed now.
The source added that the defeat in Multan prompted the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi to give complete authority to the revamped national selection committee comprising Aaqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, analyst Hasan Cheema and old member, Asad Shafiq.
The source further revealed that the selectors have been given charge of talking to the ground staff about the pitch for the second Test starting on October 15, Tuesday. They also have the final authority to decide the strategy for the match.
Fans are accustomed to seeing behind-the-scenes power changes in Pakistan cricket.
The new selection panel sent shockwaves across the cricketing world by dropping ace batter Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Sarfaraz Ahmed for the final two Tests against England.
According to reports, Shaheen and Naseem, had informed the selectors on Sunday morning that they are suffering from niggling injuries and wanted to pull out from the second Test.
Following the Multan Test loss, PCB boss Naqvi met with the mentors of the domestic teams and new selectors, including Aqib Javed, Azhar Ali, Aleem Dar, Hasan Cheema, and advisor Bilal Afzal.
Pakistan, who became the first team to lose by an innings after scoring a 500+ score in the first innings, will be aiming for a miraculous turnaround when they face England in the second Test at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Shan Masood and Jason Gillispie were both included in the national selection committee as voting members along with white ball head coach Gary Kirsten in August Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
