Former star pacer Wahab Riaz chose to remain silent after his recent removal from the selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), stating that he does not wish to be part of a “blame game.”
In a statement issued today, the PCB confirmed that the services of Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz are no longer required in the national selection committee following the team’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024.
Expressing his muted reaction on X, formerly Twitter, Riaz emphasized his dedication to Pakistan cricket. “My time serving as a member of the selection committee for PCB comes to an end. I just want my people to know that I have served the game I love with faith and sincerity and have given 100 percent for the betterment of Pakistan cricket,” he wrote.
He added, “It has been an honour to serve as part of the selection panel. To make collaborative decisions as part of the seven-man panel to select the national team was a privilege — everyone’s vote carried equal weight, we made selection decisions as a team & shared the responsibility of that process equally. It was an honour to contribute my part to that.”
Riaz concluded his statement by expressing gratitude to his supporters and wishing success for the future of the Pakistan cricket team.
The PCB has retained Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, and Bilal Afzal in the selection panel, which also includes the captain and head coach.
Addressing rumors, Wahab dismissed allegations of pressuring the selection committee. “I don’t agree with the statements being discussed about adding pressure to the members of the selection committee,” he said in a post on his X account. He questioned how one vote could dominate six, given that the committee comprised seven members, and stressed that all decisions were documented in the meeting minutes.
In addition to his removal from the selection committee, Riaz was also sacked as the senior team manager of the men’s side. The PCB cited a lack of discipline during the last three tours of the national men’s team as the reason for removing both Wahab and Manager Mansoor Rana from their posts.
Pakistan’s men’s team had toured Ireland and England for the T20I series before heading to the United States and West Indies for the T20 World Cup 2024, where they were eliminated in the group stage.