The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing to make significant changes in its national cricket setup. Salman Ali Agha is expected to become the all-format captain, replacing Shan Masood as the skipper of the Test team. This change will give Salman more responsibility, as he currently leads the T20 side.
After the Eid holidays, the PCB will announce the creation of an “observatory” committee. This new group will closely monitor cricket developments, including the performance of the national team, and provide recommendations to the PCB chairman.
A source from the PCB revealed that former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and ex-pacer Sikander Bakht have been invited to Lahore for a meeting. Both were informed about the new observatory committee and offered positions on it. The committee will also include other players, according to the source.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, along with his close team and the new white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, is also considering changes to the national selection committee. There might be adjustments in the current selection panel, which works alongside the Pakistan team management. Alternatively, a new selection setup might be introduced with a focus on spotting talent from domestic and age-group cricket.
Naqvi wants the right people in key roles to help move Pakistan cricket forward. He also supports giving more power to the coach and captain in selecting the team.
Alongside this, the PCB is likely to replace Shan Masood as the Test captain once the new red-ball head coach is appointed. Pakistan’s next Test series, marking the start of the ICC World Test Championship’s new cycle, will be a two-match home series against South Africa later this year.
Pakistan will play only five Tests in the entire calendar year, making leadership and team selection decisions even more crucial.
