PCB ropes in former Pakistan batter as chief selector of new selection committee

Najam Sethi took over as the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) replacing Ramiz Raja in late December and eventually appointed Shahid Afridi as the interim chief selector of the selection committee. However, things did not go as planned as the Men in Green lost the ODI series against New Zealand and drew the Test series prior to that. 

On January 23, Monday, the PCB announced former Pakistani cricketer Haroon Rasheed as the new chief selector of the selection committee. Further, the chief clarified that the remaining members of the selection committee would be roped in as time goes on, at the earliest. It remains to be seen if the appointment would change the fortunes of the Pakistani team, although one could understand that it depends on other factors as well. 

Earlier, Haroon was named to the 14-member cricket management committee appointed by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the 69-year-old cricketer resigned from the committee, following his appointment as the chief selector. The former Pakistani cricketer would look to get things sorted ahead of the 50-over World Cup scheduled to take place in India later this year. 

We have covered many areas: Najam Sethi

Further, Sethi said that the PCB is working round the clock to rope in Mickey Arthur as the head coach of the team. The PCB’s boss said that it would be vital to rope him in, for the benefit of the team and to boost the team’s morale. Sethi said that the board will come up with a piece of good news in a couple of days. 

“Haroon has now resigned from the management committee as we don’t want a conflict of interest as he is now chief selector. I want to make it clear I am in direct negotiations with Mickey and I think 90 percent of the discussions. We have covered many areas and very soon we may give you good news,” Sethi was quoted as saying. 

“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,” said the PCB boss further. It would be a tough ask for Arthur to bring the team back on track, given that they are going through one of the worst phases of all time.