PCB Likely To Appoint Shoaib Akhtar As Bowling Consultant: Reports

Published - 18 Jan 2023, 02:00 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM

Shoaib Akhtar (Image Credit: Twitter)

The Pakistan Cricket Board is likely to appoint former pacer Shoaib Akhtar as the team’s bowling consultant. Akhtar had expressed his interest in taking up the role in many of his media interactions post his retirement. The 47-year-old former right-arm pacer is a record-holder for bowling the fastest delivery — 161.3 kph — to be bowled in cricket’s history.

Under the new interim selector Shahid Afridi, the board is looking to make some massive changes in its support staff bringing in reputed former cricketers to work with the current players. The inclusion of Ahkhar is one big move in that direction.

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Shoaib Akhtar To Meet PCB Officials Soon: Reports

Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan — Shoaib Akhtar [Image Credits: Google]

Sources close to the PCB have also confirmed that Shoaib Akhtar will soon meet the management to discuss the road map of how he will take up his new role. They also said that the higher officials of the PCB have already contacted the former pacer and a meeting in person will be happening very soon.

According to sources, Shoaib Akhtar has also shown keen interest in playing an important role in the policy-making of the board. This hints at a certain fact that the former pacer is eyeing up a position with the PCB in the future.

The Shahid Afridi-led committee took the decisions and announced the team for the white-ball series against New Zealand. Both teams will once again be playing a five-match T20I and ODI series in April-May 2023. PCB chief Najam Sethi has said that the Afridi-led selection panel will be in charge of the team in the upcoming home series as well.

Pakistan Winless In Tests At Home Under Babar Azam in WTC 2021-23

The Pakistan Cricket Team under Babar Azam did not win a test match at home during the WTC 2021-23 cycle. This made Ramiz Raja as the PCB Chief and Sethi was appointed as the next Chairman. However, it made little difference as they drew the Test series and lost the ODI series 2-1. Both teams again play a white-ball series in April-May as said earlier.

Sethi appointed Shahid Afridi as the interim selector after winning the PCB elections. Other members of the panel are Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, while Haroon Rashid (member Management Committee) will be the Convener.

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