'Red-tape style of working': Crisis in Pakistan cricket! Former cricketer Azhar Ali resigns from PCB selection panel

Pakistan’s former Test captain Azhar Ali has stepped down from the national selection committee and from his role as head of youth development at the Pakistan National Cricket Academy.

Azhar submitted his resignation to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was given full control of the Pakistan Shaheens and the under-19 teams, news agency PTI reported, quoting sources.

"Azhar sent his resignation to the board earlier this week and it has been accepted," a source was quoted as saying by the PTI.


Azhar, who played 97 Tests, took up the selector and youth development roles last year. The PTI report said he had grown frustrated with how the board functioned.

"The red-tape style of working irritated him as did the fact that some of his proposals for young cricketers grooming at the academy were not pushed forward," PTI quoted a source.

Azhar was also unhappy that the board handed all matters related to the Shaheens and under-19 cricket to Sarfaraz without informing him.

"Azhar felt that with Sarfaraz now asked to run the Shaheens and under-19 teams, a large part of his responsibilities as head of youth development had been taken away without his consent so he decided to resign," PTI quoted the source.

Sarfaraz, who has been associated with the PCB as a mentor and later as an advisor on cricket affairs, was asked last week to take charge of both teams. He has been given authority to oversee coaches’ performance, selection, training camps and to travel with the squads.

In recent years, several former players and coaches, including overseas staff, have not completed their contracts, either leaving early or being removed.

Most recently, the PCB chose not to renew Muhammad Wasim’s contract as head coach of the women’s team after the World Cup, where the side finished last among eight teams.


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