Shahid Afridi selected as Chief of the New Interim Selection Committee

Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has been designated the interim chair of the Pakistan Men’s Cricket Selection Committee, as announced by the Pakistan Cricket Council on Saturday. 

The star all-rounder retired from International Cricket in 2017 and has played more than 500 international matches across all formats since his debut in the year, 1996.

This news comes after Mohammad Wasim whom he replaces, was sacked earlier this week following a year in which the Pakistan Cricket Team were beaten in both the finals of the World T20 Championship and Asia T20, before another humiliating defeat against England in a home test series. 

Afridi’s inclusion into the committee comes in the build-up to New Zealand’s two-Test Series tour of Pakistan starting on Monday, December 26, 2022. 

"We need to get back to our winning ways and I have no doubts that through meritocratic and strategic selection decisions, we will help the national side to perform strongly in the series against New Zealand and reclaim the confidence of our fans," Afridi stated in a report.

"I will soon convene a meeting of the selectors and will share my plans with reference to the upcoming matches."

Rao Iftikhar Anjum and Abdul Razzaq have been added to the panel, as per said by the Pakistan Cricket Council.

Pakistan Cricket Board’s management committee chair Najam Sethi told that despite little time, he was confident the panel "will make brave and bold decisions that will help us produce a strong and competitive side in the series against New Zealand".

The appointment is the latest step following a shake-up in the Pakistan Cricket Council's operations, taken after the sacking of Ramiz Raja as the council’s chairman, previously this week.