PCB Sack Selectors Wahab Riaz & Abdul Razzak After Pakistan's Dismal T20 World Cup 2024 Performance

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sacked former cricketers Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzak from the selection committee following the horrid showing at the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan led by Babar Azam exited the show-piece tournament last month in the group stages following defeats to arch-rivals India after a stunning loss to USA in their campaign opener.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had hinted at a "major surgery" after Pakistan's loss to India. And on the aftermath of the dismal performance in the World Cup, the selectors become the first to face the axe.

Apart from a disappointing T20 World Cup, Pakistan also suffered defeats in home series to a second string New Zealand followed by a defeat to Ireland and series loss to England en-route to the show-piece tournament in USA and Caribbean.

And on the aftermath of the string of poor performances, PCB has confirmed that former cricketers, who were part of the selection committe, were relieved from their role in a statement on Wednesday (July 10).

"The Pakistan Cricket Board today confirmed that it has notified Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz that their services will no longer be required in the national selection committee setup," the PCB statement read.

"Abdul Razzaq was a member of the men's and women's selection committee, while Wahab was a member of the men's selection committee. The PCB will provide further updates on the selection committee's composition in due course."

Earlier a report in ESPN Cricinfo added that PCB is likely to reconstitute the nature of the selection committee with a chief selector expected to be reappointed again after Wahab was removed from the role earlier this year despite being named in the role last year.

Over the last few years, PCB has had six chief selectors with Wahab, Haroon Rashid, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim and Misbah-ul-Haq all serving brief stints.

Following the role change, Wahab was officially appointed as one of the seven selectors alongside a data analyst, head coach and Bilal Afzal as well as former cricketers Razzak, Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq.

Wahab was appointed chief selector in November 2023 after the ODI World Cup, while Razzak was named as selector for both the men's and women's side just weeks ago.

The news of their sacking surfaces when both Razzak and Wahab are in the United Kingdom to participate in the World Championship of Legends for the Pakistan Champions team, which has qualified for the semi-final in the inaugural edition of the tournament.