LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has reportedly resigned from his position as a member of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) selection committee, sources revealed on Tuesday.
According to sources, Misbah’s resignation came in the aftermath of the PCB’s decision to overhaul Pakistan’s Test set-up and release seven players from the squad currently touring England.
The former captain is understood to have stepped down after the inclusion of new players in the Test squad was not discussed with him.
Misbah joined the PCB selection committee in March this year alongside Sarfaraz Ahmed, who was recently removed as the Test head coach following Pakistan’s disappointing results.
For the unversed, the PCB made sweeping changes to the red-ball set-up following Pakistan’s heavy defeats in the first two Tests of the three-match series against England, with seven players and two members of the coaching staff released ahead of the final Test at Edgbaston, scheduled to begin on September 9.
Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad have been sent back to Pakistan.
They have been replaced by Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Mohammad Imran Jr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah for the remainder of the tour.
The coaching structure has also been reshaped, with red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul released from their respective positions.
White-ball head coach Mike Hesson has taken over the Test coaching responsibilities, while Ashley Noffke has been appointed as bowling coach.
The PCB’s decisions have triggered criticism from several former players and prominent figures in international cricket, particularly over the timing of the changes and the lack of continuity in Pakistan’s red-ball set-up.
