New Delhi: The appointment of Mohammad Rizwan as the new white-ball skipper of Pakistan wasn’t so straight considering the new selection policy of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). There has been controversy building around it ever since the board announced their new set of rules for team selection and notably, it even came into contrast with Rizwan, who was seemingly informed about his selection as the skipper.
According to a report in PTI, a PCB source informed that Rizwan was initially reluctant about accepting the new role. It was because of the new selection policy by the PCB in which the skipper and the head coach don’t have a say in deciding the playing XI, leaving it all to the national selectors as well. The skipper also doesn’t get any voting rights in short-listing the touring squads.
Rizwan however agreed to this new policy and was ultimately named the new captain. “After discussions with the (Pakistan Cricket) Board chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, and senior selector, Aaqib Javed, Riwan agreed to the new system where his input in the selection process would be strictly advisory,” PTI quoted the source as saying.
Gary Kirsten resigns
Gary Kirsten was quick enough to hand his resignation to the board as the head coach of the white ball teams on Monday. He reportedly did not agree to be a part of the selection process in an advisory capacity. He is also said to have some other issues with the PCB as well. The source also added that Rizwan is assured by the board and Aaqib that he would be consulted in finalising the teams but the final decision will lie in the hands of the five selectors.
“Under the new policy, the selection committee is now responsible for selecting touring squads and the playing eleven,” the source informed. The new set of rules was introduced by the PCB after Pakistan suffered an embarrassing defeat against England in the first Multan Test this month. Following the huge defeat, new selectors Aaqib, Azhar Ali, and Aleem Dar were added to the selection panel and were handed powers of selecting the teams without the consent of the skipper and the head coach.
