Pakistan Cricket Board is likely to remove former Test cricketer and senior selector Aaqib Javed from the national selection committee as part of a wider “clean-up” operation being carried out behind the scenes, a source close to the board said. “Aqib is also likely to be told to focus on his role as Director Development at the Lahore High Performance Centre,” the well-informed source said. The development comes days after senior players Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha were sent back from England, a decision that has triggered speculation about the selection policy and team management.
On the future of former head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, who were also released from their respective positions while the team is in England, the source said both would be offered other assignments within the board.
“The rest of the players sent back were done so on the recommendation of interim red-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who wanted to try out some players he had worked with in the white-ball camp,” the source said. “Aqib, who is considered the blue-eyed boy of the chairman, is also likely to be told to just focus on his role as Director Development at the Lahore High Performance Centre,” he said. Another selector, former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, has already offered to step down, according to the source. “A new selection committee could be announced after the England tour,” the source said. The board is also considering retaining Hesson as the permanent head coach of the red-ball side if he agrees to take up the responsibility, the source said.
