- Raja questions Butt’s spot-fixing past in selection committee.
- PCB reshuffles after T20 disappointment, appoints new selectors and Hafeez as team director/coach.
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has expressed outrage over the appointment of former cricketer Salman Butt as a consultant member to newly-appointed chief selector Wahab Riaz.
Butt, along with Kamran Akmal and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, were named to the selection committee on Friday. However, Raja was left baffled by the decision, particularly the inclusion of Butt, who was banned for 10 years by the ICC in 2010 for his involvement in a spot-fixing scandal.
“It’s insane to have a selection committee consisting of a member whose decision can be termed as a display of filial affection or non-affection and another who was locked up for match fixing,” Raja said.
Raja’s comments come as the PCB undergoes a major reshuffle following Pakistan’s disappointing performance at the recent T20 World Cup. The team finished fifth in the tournament, failing to qualify for the semifinals for the third consecutive time.
In addition to the appointment of a new selection committee, the PCB has also hired former all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez as the team director. Hafeez will also serve as the head coach for the upcoming series against Australia and New Zealand.