The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to make massive changes in its national team set-up by appointing Salman Ali Agha as all-format captain, replacing Shan Masood as the skipper of the Test side.
Besides the change in captaincy, the board will be announcing the formation of an ‘observatory’ committee after Eid holidays, a concept meant to keep a close watch on cricket developments, including in the national team and forward recommendations to the board’s chairman.
Salman Ali Agha has played 21 tests, amassing 1317 runs at an average of 38.73 and also picked 19 wickets in the format.
A source on the board said that former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and ex-pacer Sikander Bakht had been called to Lahore for a meeting.
“The two were informed about the decision to form the observatory committee and offered positions on it,” the source said. “Some other players will also be on this committee.”
He added that PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, after discussion with newly appointed white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, is also considering redefining the role of the national selection committee.
“Either there will be changes in the current selection committee which would continue to work with the Pakistan team management or a new selection set-up would be announced with prime focus on looking and finding talent from domestic and age group cricket,” the source said.
The source added that PCB chairman wanted to see things move forward with the right people in the right positions and with the coach and captain given powers to select the team.
Salman Ali Agha will be replacing Shan Masood as Pakistan’s test captain when they announce the new head coach of the red-ball format.
Pakistan’s test assignment will be against South Africa later this year in a new WTC test Cycle. Pakistan will be playing only five test matches in the current calendar year.
