Former Pakistani fast bowler, Sarfaraz Nawaz, has called for a sweeping overhaul of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) selection committee, deeming the entire group inept following the recent removal of committee members Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq.
In a critical commentary, Sarfaraz lambasted the committee’s collective decision-making, especially evident during the pre-World Cup preparations. “The selection committee has worked collectively, as was apparent during the pre-World Cup press conference with every member admitting that the team was constituted after consensus,” Sarfaraz told reporters. “Every member of the committee was responsible for the selection, so all should be sacked.”
Sarfaraz’s discontent with the PCB’s selection dynamics extends back to his warnings about Wahab Riaz’s administrative capabilities, which he claimed were consistently overlooked. “I am on record to have written letters to Zaka and Naqvi regarding Wahab’s suspected past and his lack of abilities as an administrator. Nobody paid heed to my suggestion,” he asserted.
The former cricketer’s proposed reforms include a dramatic reduction in the committee’s size and a reassessment of its members’ capabilities. “Major surgery is required if at all we want to put the system on the right track. There should be a three-member selection committee, and mere sacking Wahab and Abdul Razzak would not be enough,” he explained.
Moreover, Sarfaraz endorsed the leadership of Shan Masood for the Test team and Mohammad Rizwan for the white-ball formats, citing Rizwan’s proven track record. “Rizwan has proved his captaincy credentials by helping KPK win all domestic events in the past, and his performance as Multan Sultans’ captain has been consistent over the years. He is the best choice for the job,” he concluded.