PCB appoints former Pakistan batsman Mohammad Wasim as chief selector until 2023 ICC World Cup

Islamabad: Pakistan on Saturday appointed former Test cricketer Mohammad Wasim as the chairman of its selection committee until the 2023 World Cup. The 43-year-old Wasim will replace Misbah-ul-Haq, who stepped down in October to concentrate on his job as head coach of the national team. The Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement that Wasim’s appointment was approved by the board’s chairman Ehsan Mani following the final round of online interviews held on Thursday and Friday. [caption id=“attachment_8999931” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  The PCB’s new constitution makes it mandatory to include at least one woman among four independent directors on its board of governors.[/caption] “This is a performance-oriented world and, as such, my philosophy will be to promote meritocracy and select squads according to home and international conditions and requirements,” Wasim said in a statement. “As a chief selector, I will always be willing to make the hard calls, if these are in the best interest of Pakistan cricket.” Pakistan will have a hectic 2021 as it has planned to host at least four international teams — South Africa, New Zealand, England and the West Indies — besides playing in the Twenty20 World Cup in India. Wasim’s first assignment will be to select the Pakistan team for next month’s two-Test and three Twenty20 home series against South Africa. “We have a busy 2021 year ahead and I will focus on being positive on selections that not only address our short-term needs but also fulfil our long-term ambition,” he said. Wasim is currently head coach of the Northern Cricket Association, which is in second place in the the ongoing domestic First-Class tournament. The PCB said there will be no change in the composition of the selection committee and head coaches of the six teams, competing in First-Class cricket, will be continue to serve on the panel. As such, PCB will appoint a new head coach of Northern Cricket Association, who will later join the selection panel. Wasim, who is from Rawalpindi, played 18 Test matches and 25 one-day internationals for Pakistan between 1996 and 2000. He scored 783 runs in Test matches that included a century on debut against New Zealand. He also served as coach of the Sweden men’s team in 2018 before being appointed as Northern Cricket Association head coach last year.