Waqar Younis has been appointed as an Advisor to the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
According to sources within the PCB, the legendary fast bowler will oversee cricket affairs for the board.
Cricpulse understands that Waqar has accepted the role and will begin his duties most likely from August 1, reporting directly to Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the PCB.
Waqar, 52, a former captain and coach of Pakistan with 87 Tests and 262 ODIs under his belt, has been entrusted with a range of responsibilities, primarily overseeing the national teams and their coaches.
He will effectively manage both the red-ball and white-ball teams, with the management and coaches (Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie) reporting directly to him.
Additionally, he will coordinate with the selection committee, which has recently been in the spotlight for various reasons.
Two selectors, Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq, were recently removed from the selection committee by the PCB chairman, primarily due to the controversy surrounding the selection of the Pakistan team for the recent Twenty20 World Cup.
The team failed to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament after a defeat to the USA.
Additionally, they were removed, as reported by Cricpulse recently, for the “promotion and selection of certain players despite reservations from other members.”
Furthermore, Waqar “will also address any matters or assignments deemed appropriate by the PCB chairman that require his attention or expertise,” sources have revealed.
Currently, Waqar is being hired as a consultant, but his services will eventually be regularized going forward.
The PCB will be looking to Waqar to discharge duties similar to those of Rob Key for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
For the record, Key is the managing director of the men’s team.
Waqar’s appointment comes at a time when Pakistan cricket is at a crossroads with public outrage over the team’s poor performance in the World Cup.
Additionally, he is the first international cricketer to be given key responsibilities since Zakir Khan left the board some time ago.
Additional duties that may be assigned to Waqar include the supervision of domestic cricket, the high-performance center, coaches, and curators.
He is also expected to be involved in planning, strategizing, and game development.
One of the reasons for this appointment is believed to be to relieve the chairman of crucial cricketing matters, allowing him to concentrate on governance, infrastructure, administration, commercial agreements, and the future of cricket.
More significantly, the Pakistan cricket season begins in August and will run continuously until the Champions Trophy, after which the team will tour New Zealand.
The PCB chairman felt that a strong candidate with a background in international cricket was essential.
According to the source, “The PCB believed there was a need for an experienced individual who understands the language of cricketers and is capable of making the right decisions, which is why Waqar was brought on board.”
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