The decision-making and management of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have become a subject of ridicule. Just a day after naming Salman Butt, a tainted figure, as one of three consultants to chief selector Wahab Riaz, the PCB reversed its decision, prompting further scepticism about the board’s rationale. The backlash from the cricket community, led by former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja and legendary pacer Sarfraz Nawaz, was vehement. Even external pressures, including a directive from the prime minister, who serves as the PCB’s chief patron, reportedly played a role in Butt’s removal.
Salman Butt, the former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, orchestrated the notorious spot-fixing scandal in 2010, tarnishing the sport’s integrity. Convincing bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif to bowl predetermined no-balls during the Lord’s Test against England, Butt, as the captain and the most educated of the trio, bore the primary responsibility. Despite being banned for 10 years by the International Cricket Council and serving a prison sentence, Butt was controversially appointed as a consultant by the PCB.
The subsequent removal of Butt, just a day after his appointment, was attributed by Chief Selector Wahab Riaz to “undue criticism from media houses.” Riaz defended the decision, asserting that Butt had completed his punishment and urged everyone to ‘move on.’ However, this move failed to acknowledge the profound impact of Butt’s actions on the millions of Pakistani cricket enthusiasts. The appointment raised questions about the PCB’s judgment, especially in light of recent illogical decisions, and emphasized that for an act of betrayal that brought shame to Pakistan cricket, there should be no path for redemption.
After the world cup debacle, Pakistan cricket team – one of the favourites to lift the world cup in India, lost confidence when supporters and former cricketers openly criticised the performance of team and captain Babar Azam. The off field drama of Inzamam ul Haq (then chief selector of national cricket team) resigning from the post became the first casualty of possible overhaul by PCB led by Zaka Ashraf.
The meetings of PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf with former cricketers, like Shahid Afridi, and active cricketers like Sarfaraz Ahmed opened the Pandora box of removing Babar Azam from his post at least in the shorter format of the game. Former South African fast bowler and bowling coach Morne Morkel also resigned immediately after the world cup.
After the much awaited meeting of Babar Azam and Zaka Ashraf, star batsman through X formerly twitter announced to resign from captaincy in all formats of game. After a couple of hours PCB announced Shan Masoood (averaging 28.52 in tests and 18 in ODIs) as captain of the test team while as injury prone fast bowler Shaheen Afridi having a mediocre world cup was appointed to lead the team in T20s.
Wahab Riaz who recently retired from international cricket was appointed chief selector and Mohammad Hafeez as director and coach of PCT. Fast bowler Haris Rouf who was not at his best in the entire world cup made himself unavailable for Australia tour due to workload management was lashed out by the chief selector during a press conference causing another controversy.