Waqar Younis officially inducted in Pakistan Cricket Board, given this key position ahead of Bangladesh series

Former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis has reportedly been appointed as the advisor to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. According to a Cricbuzz report, Waqar Younis will directly report to Mohsin Naqvi on cricket-related decisions, and his tenure will begin on August 1.

Waqar Younis represented the Pakistan team in 87 Tests and 262 ODIs from 1989 to 2003. The former pacer took 373 wickets in Tests and 416 wickets in ODIs. He also led the national team in 17 Tests and 62 ODIs during his career. He has had multiple stints with the Pakistan team after his retirement.

The 52-year-old didn't have good results with the Pakistan team as a bowling and assistant coach. The former Pakistan captain will now oversee the red-ball and white-ball teams, as well as coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie. Younis will also oversee the selection committee for the national cricket teams.

The PCB chairman recently removed selectors Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from the committee. Mohsin Naqvi decided after Pakistan delivered a lackluster performance in the T20 World Cup 2024. The Men in Green failed to advance past the group stage after losing to the USA and India.

Waqar Younis Will Address Any Matters - Report

According to Cricbuzz, Waqar Younis will also address any assignments assigned by the PCB chairman that require his expertise.

"Address any matters or assignments deemed appropriate by the PCB chairman that require his attention or expertise," the source said.

The report added that Waqar Younis may also oversee domestic cricket, the high-performance center, and curators. The board decided to appoint Younis to free up the PCB chairman to focus on administration, governance, infrastructure, and commercial matters.

"The PCB believed there was a need for an experienced individual who understands the language of cricketers and is capable of making the right decisions, which is why Waqar was brought on board," the source also added.

Wasim Khan previously held the chief executive role at the PCB, which was focused strictly on cricketing operations and remained apolitical. Ramiz Raja took over as PCB chairman after Khan’s tenure ended and merged the chief executive role with the chairman’s responsibilities.

Pakistan has a tightly packed schedule from August 2024 to March 2025. They will start their home season with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, beginning on August 21 in Rawalpindi. Pakistan will also host England and the West Indies for Test matches and South Africa and New Zealand for an ODI tri-series.

Pakistan has the hosting rights for the Champions Trophy 2025. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the tournament. Mohsin Naqvi and Waqar Younis will face a challenge in ensuring the hosting of the entire Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

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