Mohammad Yousuf steps down as Pakistan cricket selector

Selectors for Pakistan’s cricket team Wahab Riaz (R) and Mohammad Yousuf announce the squad for the upcoming Twenty20 international series in Ireland and England later this month during a press conference in Lahore on May 2, 2024. (AFP/File)
Short Url
Updated 29 September 2024
Follow

Mohammad Yousuf steps down as Pakistan cricket selector

  • Yusuf’s resignation comes days after Pakistan named national squad for first Test against England in October 
  • He was named to selection panel earlier this year before Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup performance

ISLAMABAD: Mohammad Yousuf resigned as Pakistan cricket selector on Sunday due to personal reasons.

Yousuf’s resignation came only five days after Pakistan named its squad for the first test against England, starting at Multan on Oct. 7. Yousuf was one of the four members of the selection committee that also includes former test cricketer Asad Shafiq, test head coach Jason Gillespie and test captain Shan Masood.

“I announce my resignation as a selector for the Pakistan cricket team due to personal reasons,” Yousuf wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Serving this incredible team has been a profound privilege, and I am proud to have contributed to the growth and success of Pakistan Cricket.”

Yousuf was named to the selection panel earlier this year, but Pakistan had little success, making an early exit from the T20 World Cup where it lost group matches against arch-rival India and co-host United States. Bangladesh also registered a historic 2-0 win when it swept Pakistan in the two-test series.

Later, the Pakistan Cricket Board said that Yousuf had voluntarily stepped down from his role as a member of the national selection committee to focus on other key responsibilities within the PCB.

“The PCB expresses its sincere gratitude to Mohammad Yousuf for his invaluable contributions during his tenure as a selection committee member,” the PCB said in a statement.

“Yousuf will continue to play a pivotal role at the PCB, sharing his extensive knowledge and experience as the batting coach at the high performance center.”


Pakistan announces national Islamic scholarship competition focused on youth

Updated 28 January 2026
Follow

Pakistan announces national Islamic scholarship competition focused on youth

  • Contest invites books, essays, poetry in multiple languages, with awards for men and women
  • Best entries to be published digitally and in print, submissions due by March 31

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs on Wednesday announced a nationwide competition for books, poetry and academic papers focused on Islamic scholarship, as part of efforts to promote religious discourse addressing modern social challenges, particularly among younger generations.

The annual competition will cover works on Seerat — the biography and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) — as well as Na’at, a traditional form of devotional poetry praising the Prophet, alongside broader Islamic research and literary contributions published in Pakistan and abroad.

“Ministry of Religious Affairs ... remains committed to addressing contemporary challenges through the guidance of the Seerat-e-Tayyaba (the life of the Prophet Muhammad), describing the national competition as an important step toward promoting Islamic teachings in society,” the ministry said in a statement.

“The initiative serves as an effective platform to encourage writers and researchers working on Seerat and Islamic subjects.”

For 2026, the ministry has set the central theme for Seerat research papers as “Protection, development and character-building of the younger generation in the light of the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).” 

Officials said the focus aims to encourage scholarly engagement with issues such as ethics, social responsibility and education in a rapidly changing society.

The competition will award separate cash prizes and certificates to male and female writers at national and provincial levels, while selected research papers will be published in both digital and printed formats, the statement said.

According to the ministry, works published in national, regional and foreign languages will be eligible, with eight dedicated categories covering Seerat authors and Na’at poets. Separate categories have also been introduced for women writers, journals and magazines, expanding participation beyond individual book authors.

The ministry said the competition is intended to strengthen Islamic literary traditions while encouraging new voices to engage with religious subjects in a contemporary context.

The deadline for submission of books and research papers is March 31, 2026, it added.