Wahab Riaz has stepped into the role of Pakistan’s chief selector, taking over from Inzamam-ul-Haq after the team’s exit from the 2023 World Cup. Following Pakistan’s loss to England, the cricket board underwent significant changes, appointing Mohammad Hafeez as the new director of men’s cricket and Wahab Riaz as the chief selector in place of Inzamam-ul-Haq.
Inzamam, facing conflict of interest allegations related to a UK-based company, Yazoo International Ltd, resigned amidst the World Cup, distancing himself from any controversy. Wahab Riaz, who retired from international cricket in August, continues to contribute to franchise cricket, notably with Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Cricket League (PSL).
Addressing the nation in a video on PCB’s official platforms, Wahab acknowledged the challenging task of heading the selection committee. He emphasized the upcoming Australia tour and T20I series against New Zealand, aiming to build a formidable team for the ICC T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies next year.
Expressing camaraderie with Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab highlighted their decade-long association, pledging to prioritize top-performing domestic players and provide valuable feedback to the team. The selection panel’s other members remain unnamed.
Wahab’s initial assignment involves a tour of Australia (three Tests) in December-January, followed by a series in New Zealand comprising five T20Is. Notably, Babar Azam resigned as captain across formats, leading to Shan Masood becoming the new Test skipper and Shaheen Shah Afridi taking on the role of white-ball captain.
