The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have decided to give more authority to its Cricket Committee, led by former captain Misbah-ul-Haq, according to sources.
With this development, Pakistan men’s team Director Micky Arthur — who has also served Pakistan as a head coach in past — and Head Coach Grant Bradburn are unlikely to continue working with the national side.
The committee will start the search for a new head coach soon, sources added.
Arthur and Bradburn were roped in by the previous PCB Management Committee, which was headed by Najam Sethi.
Arthur’s appointment as the Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team was made in April this year.
The PCB had announced that Arthur will be part of the coaching staff for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, away tour to Australia and home series against the West Indies. He will also be present with the side for Pakistan’s matches against India in the Asia Cup.
Meanwhile, Bradburn was appointed as the head coach in May, earlier this year, for a period of two years.
It must be noted that Misbah, 49, will work without pay, since it’s an honorary role, and will also serve as Zaka Ashraf’s, chairman of the PCB Management Committee, advisor.
The chairman PCB has told Misbah to make Cricket Committee strong and independent. He also him to include senior cricketers with him and look after everything related to cricket.
The names of the former cricketers who will be a part of the Cricket Committee will be finalised by Thursday, sources added.
The committee will also suggest names for the chief selector and other important personnel.
While Misbah has shortlisted the names of former cricketers Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammad Wasim, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali for the post of chief selector, the chairman PCB want Mohammad Hafeez as the head of the selection committee.
Earlier today, the PCB appointed Umar Farooq Kalson as the media department's head, sources told Geo News.
Kalson, who is a renowned cricket writer and journalist in the country, has replaced Sami-ul-Hasan Burney as media director.
As per sources, Kalson accepted the offer to become the media director from the new management committee chairman Zaka Ashraf. There are more changes expected in the media department as well.
Sami-ul-Hasan Burney and former CEO Faisal Hasnain have been transferred to the special projects department with immediate effect.
Sami took charge of PCB's media and communications department as director in 2019 when Ehsan Mani was the chairman. Whereas, Faisal was brought in as CEO by Ramiz Raja in 2022. He replaced Wasim Khan who resigned from his post.
Sohail Imran Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo News.- Mickey Arthur