After the team’s current tour of Sri Lanka is over, former Pakistan skipper and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is expected to be named the team’s chief selector. Sources claim that Zaka Ashraf, the current chairman of the Cricket Management Committee (CMC) of the Pakistan Cricket Board, favours Hafeez for the position of chief selector, which has been open since the previous CMC was disbanded in June.
One of the sources from the committee spoke to PTI and told the narrative behind the selection. They said, “Zaka met with former captain Rashid Latif and Hafeez and spoke to them about becoming chief selector. Rashid was not keen on the job but Hafeez (has) expressed his availability for the job. Rashid was more interested in working on anti-corruption issues. Hafeez who played 55 Tests, 218 ODIs and 119 T20Is for Pakistan before retiring last year, made it clear that he would like the challenge of working as the chief selector.”
“It is unlikely the entire selection committee will be changed”: Pakistan Cricket Board source
The new national selection committee, which additionally comprises team director Mickey Arthur as well as head coach Grant Bradburn, is chaired by Haroon Rasheed, a former member of the CMC led by Najam Sethi.
According to the source, Ashraf had not yet determined whether to replace Rasheed as chief selector or the whole selection committee that Sethi and Mickey Arthur had constituted. They said, “It is unlikely the entire selection committee will be changed because of the heavy schedule of the Pakistan team after the Sri Lanka tour as Afghanistan have also confirmed an ODI series in Sri Lanka in August before the Asia Cup.”
Before the Asia Cup as well as the World Cup in India, Ashraf has also made other decisions regarding the Pakistani team. He is considering hiring an entirely fresh manager and media manager. They added, “Naveed Akram Cheema, who has remained manager in the past, is a strong candidate to become team manager soon in place of Rehan ul Haq.”
Fans react to Mohammad Hafeez getting selected as chief selector of Pakistan cricket team:
Mohammad Hafeez set to become Pakistan's Chief Selector. pic.twitter.com/EtXzI79oNn
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 21, 2023
Yes kal nikal jayega nam!
Bois played well ke list mein? pic.twitter.com/5judZvK0nv— Abhinav Singh (@ProteinEnforcer) July 21, 2023
Congratulations to chief selectors on becoming Mohammad Hafeez pic.twitter.com/oqoDntdp4j
— ???? (@abxdalt) July 21, 2023
No way bro retire in 2021 and he is going to become a chief selector warra board paksitan ??
— Ganguly (@140off113) July 21, 2023
Wasn't he in next T20 World Cup squad anymore! ?
— Vivek Rabara (@VivekRabara) July 21, 2023
They are getting third chief selector in 6 month's
— Prasunjha (@Prasunj90898109) July 21, 2023
It means we will missed him to see sitting in the news channel's studio as an expert and criticizing Pakistan's selection committee during WC 2023.
— Optimistic Lokesh Mathur (@lokeshmathur_bk) July 21, 2023
W
He and rizwan are the only Pakistani cricketers i like.— Mr. Vampire (@_CaptainKohli) July 21, 2023
