Former ace bowler Wahab Riaz is not happy about being let go from the Pakistan Team's selection committee. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sacked him from the coveted post after the team's disappointing showing in the recent T20 World Cup. Riaz took to social media to express his frustration, specifically about claims that he wasn't effective as a leader and favored certain players during his time on the committee.
"I don’t agree with the statements being discussed about adding pressure to the members of the selection committee; how can 1 vote dominate 6? Everything is documented on record in the meeting minutes," Riaz wrote on X.
Wahab Riaz, who served on the men's selection committee, and Abdul Razzaq, who was involved in selecting both the men's and women's teams, were both fired from their positions. Pakistani media reports allege the pair wielded excessive influence during the T20 World Cup squad selection, favoring underperforming players. These reports claim the selectors' opinions had been disregarded for some time. The decision to remove them stemmed from a report by head coach Gary Kirsten and his deputy, Azhar Mahmood. This report reportedly criticized Riaz's leadership skills, deeming him ineffective as a senior manager. Furthermore, it accused both Riaz and Razzaq of showing favoritism towards specific players.
Previously, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi had hinted at a "major overhaul" within Pakistan's cricketing landscape.
The PCB's statement read:
“The Board has notified Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz that their services will no longer be required in the national selection committee setup.”
Wahab previously served as the chief selector before being reinstated as one of the seven members of the men's selection committee in March this year. The former fast bowler also travelled with the Pakistan team to the T20 World Cup as the senior team manager.
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