Pakistan cricket fans are used to a rollercoaster of emotions, but even by their standards, the recent T20 World Cup was a heartbreaker. A first-ever group stage exit, punctuated by a shock defeat to the USA and a squandered opportunity against India, has left the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) scrambling for answers.
Babar Azam to be sacked?
The PCB’s response? A “restructuring” for the entire selection panel, that was chosen not more than a couple of months ago! Faced with an angry nation and a team in disarray, the PCB is wielding the axe. At least six members of the current squad are likely to be shown the door, with the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh serving as a platform for trials and a much-needed reset. But the real change might be coming from the murky world of team selection.
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The current selection committee, a nine-headed hydra with names like Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Yousuf, and even captain Babar Azam himself, has come under intense scrutiny. Critics have slammed the committee’s effectiveness, with the PCB acknowledging that a nine-person selection circus might not be the best recipe for success. As a result, the entire committee is facing the chop.
A complete overhaul by PCB?
According to Cricket Pakistan, “The PCB is considering disbanding the current committee and forming a new, smaller selection panel. The current selectors could soon find themselves without a job.“
The truth is, Pakistan fans deserve better. They deserve a team that fights, a selection committee that’s clear-headed, and a board that inspires confidence. Another shake-up might be a step in the right direction, but one can’t help but feel it might just be something that has been done over and over again.
