ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan cricket team selector Wahab Riaz responded to his sacking from the seven-member selection committee on Wednesday, saying he had served the national team to the best of his abilities and did not want to be part of any “blame games.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday morning it had sacked Riaz and former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq from the seven-member selection committee following Pakistan’s dismal performance in last month’s T20 World Cup. Razzaq, who was appointed to the selection committee for both the men’s and women’s sides just weeks ago, will no longer serve as a selector for the women’s team.
Their sacking came weeks after Pakistan failed to qualify for the second round of the T20 World Cup 2024 tournament in the United States and West Indies. Millions of cricket fans in the South Asian country were left fuming after Pakistan lost successive matches to the US and India due to poor batting and fielding performances.
Local media reports said Pakistan’s coaches, in their recent reports to the PCB management, pinned the blame on Riaz and Razzaq for continuously backing underperforming players in the national squad. The reports also said Razzaq and Riaz insisted on selecting these underperforming players and pressurized other selectors part of the panel to agree with them.
“There is a lot I can say but I don’t want to be part of the blame games,” Riaz wrote on social media platform X, as he shared his detailed statement in the same post.
“I just want people to know that I have served the game I love with faith and sincerity and have given 100 percent for the betterment of Pakistan cricket,” he added.
The former Pakistani pacer said the seven-member selection committee made decisions in a collaborative manner, reiterating that “everyone’s vote carried equal weight.”
“I am confident that the team plans the coaches have put together will ensure this team continues to grow into a dominant force as we move forward and I wish them the best of luck on that journey,” he said.
Separately, Razzaq took to X to reject claims he pressurized other members of the selection committee on various decisions.
“If all were given equal power how can one vote overpower the other 6 in the selection committee,” he asked.
The seven-member committee, which was only announced less than four months ago with Riaz demoted from chief selector, did not have a head. Each of the seven members carried an equal vote, with PCB Chairman Naqvi saying the committee would make a majority of decisions after debates and arguments to reach conclusions.
The remaining five selection committee members are Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, statistician Bilal Afzal and the captains of the three cricket formats.
