KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced its decision to sack former pacers Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from the selection committee following the national team’s group stage exit from the T20 World Cup, disappointing fans across the world.
Pakistan crashed out of the tournament, co-hosted by the United States and West Indies, after losing two crucial matches: one against the amateur USA team and another in a narrow defeat to India despite being in a strong position to win.
In response to the debacle, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has been holding meetings with coaches and former Pakistani cricket players amid mounting pressure to improve the team’s performance and address the issues that led to their early exit.
“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 said in a brief statement. “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,” it continued.
The men’s national cricket team has faced a disappointing run since the Asia Cup last year, revealing significant gaps in their approach and consistency.
Internal divisions have been cited as a major issue, for which the PCB itself has faced criticism.
The PCB’s handling of leadership changes and team management decisions has also come under scrutiny, with many arguing that these factors contributed to the squad’s overall decline in performance.
Wahab Riaz, Abdul Razzaq sacked from Pakistan cricket’s selection committee after World Cup debacle
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Wahab Riaz, Abdul Razzaq sacked from Pakistan cricket’s selection committee after World Cup debacle
- The men’s national cricket team disappointed fans across the world after group stage exit from T20 World Cup
- PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has been consulting coaches, former players to improve the team’s performance
Pakistan praises Qatar’s ‘positive role’ on National Day, seeks deeper trade and investment ties
- Zardari says relations with Qatar are rooted in shared values, mutual respect and people-to-people contacts
- He says Pakistan sees energy, agriculture and technology as priority areas for expanding bilateral cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday praised Qatar’s “positive role” at the regional and international level and called for enhanced trade and investment cooperation as the Gulf state marked its National Day, according to a statement from the presidency.
Pakistan and Qatar maintain close diplomatic, economic and security ties, underpinned by energy cooperation, labor links and growing defense engagement. Qatar hosts a large Pakistani expatriate workforce, employed mainly in construction, services, transport and security, making remittances a key pillar of the relationship.
Security ties have also expanded in recent years, with Pakistan providing military training and advisory support to Qatari forces. The two countries cooperated on security planning and personnel deployment for the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosted by Doha.
Qatar has also played a diplomatic role in the region, most recently mediating between Pakistan and Afghanistan following fierce border clashes earlier this year in which dozens of people were killed on both sides.
“Qatar’s positive role at the regional and international level is commendable,” President Asif Ali Zardari said in a message issued on the occasion of the Arab country’s National Day.
“Pakistan is keen to further expand cooperation with Qatar in trade and investment,” he added.
In his message, Zardari extended congratulations to Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and conveyed best wishes to the Qatari people, describing relations between the two countries as close, enduring and rooted in shared values and mutual respect.
He said Qatar had achieved significant development and progress under the Amir’s leadership and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
Zardari said Pakistan sought to deepen partnerships with Qatar in sectors including energy, agriculture and technology, while highlighting manpower cooperation and people-to-people contacts as the foundation of the relationship.
The president also expressed Islamabad’s resolve to further strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries, the statement said.
