The fallout from Pakistan’s disastrous performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy continues to unfold, with the team’s early exit from the tournament—despite being the host nation—placing the spotlight squarely on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), its selectors, and top officials.
Pakistan, led by Mohammad Rizwan, faced a series of defeats that saw them becoming the first team to be knocked out of the tournament. Following losses to New Zealand and a comprehensive defeat by India in Dubai, scrutiny has intensified. Reports from the Press Trust of India (PTI) suggest that interim coach Aquib Javed and other coaching staff may face the axe after the conclusion of the Champions Trophy.
In the midst of the ongoing dissection, former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram highlighted a surprising aspect of the PCB’s selection committee during a talk show with former Indian cricketers Ajay Jadeja and Nikhil Chopra. The discussion raised concerns about the credentials of the national selectors.
Ajay Jadeja expressed his disbelief, asking, “Aapke waha first-class cricketer nahin hai? jo selector hain (Don’t selectors at least have to be first-class players in Pakistan)?” Nikhil Chopra added, “At least they should play a minimum number of games!”
Jadeja further queried, “Are you trying to tell me that a national selector in Pakistan has not even played First-Class cricket?”
Wasim Akram responded by revealing, “There was a selector, who was a bureaucrat, and was part of the selection committee till about six months ago. Now there is an umpire, but he has played first-class cricket. There is one guy who specialises with stats. I mean, why do you need a stats guy? Will you play with a computer on the ground?”
Following a loss against England in October 2024, the PCB added umpire Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, and Azhar Ali to the selection panel, which earlier included Asad Shafiq and Hassan Cheema, a sports journalist and Pakistan Super League (PSL) team manager.
Ajay Jadeja opined, “If you are selecting players on stats, then you are not ‘selecting,’ you are only rejecting. The job of the selector is to see what you are going to work with. When we or you were picked, we may not have had the best stats in the world. If you see a player and you feel that this guy can be better in the next months, that’s what a selector can do. Stats can’t tell you that.”
Wasim Akram agreed, adding, “Stats can’t tell you the situation, the on-ground reality.”
As Pakistan grapples with the fallout from their early exit and the potential overhaul of the coaching staff, the debate around the qualifications and effectiveness of the national selectors continues to be a point of contention. The insights shared by Akram, Jadeja, and Chopra shed light on the critical need for experience and foresight in the selection process to navigate the complexities of international cricket.
