The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made strategic appointments, bringing in former cricketers Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, and Rao Iftikhar Anjum as consultant members to chief selector Wahab Riaz. The trio will contribute to the selection panel, with immediate effect, and their first assignment is the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on January 12, 2024, following the Test tour to Australia.
Salman Butt, a former Test captain, has represented Pakistan in 33 Tests, 78 ODIs, and 24 T20Is. However, the decision to appoint Butt has stirred controversy on social media, with fans expressing opposition due to his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal in 2010.
Kamran Akmal, a seasoned cricketer with a 15-year career, played 53 Tests, 157 ODIs, and 58 T20Is. Rao Iftikhar Anjum, who played from 2004 to 2010, contributed to one Test, 62 ODIs, and two T20Is.
The consultant members may also be assigned additional responsibilities, such as conducting skills camps when not engaged in selection duties. The appointments reflect the PCB’s strategy to bring in experienced individuals to contribute to the selection process and enhance the team’s performance. Stay tuned for updates on the trio’s impact on Pakistan cricket’s selection strategies.
