New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday confirmed head coach Grant Bradburn and team director Mickey Arthur among three new members in the national men’s selection committee, which will select senior, Shaheens and U19 sides.
In the Haroon Rashid-led selection committee, Bradburn and Arthur will be joined by Hassan Cheema, the selection committee secretary and manager analytics and team strategy for national men’s side.
PCB said in its statement that the presence of Cheema, who has worked as strategy manager and data analyst in franchise cricket around the world, Arthur and Bradburn will aid in strategising for the approaching and upcoming series, enhance the bench strength and provide a proper pathway to performing players in Shaheens and U19 sides to graduate to the national side.
Rashid was named as the chair of the men’s selection committee in January this year, having last served in the same role in 2015-16. It was followed by appointments of Arthur and Bradburn in their respective roles later on by the Najam Sethi-led PCB Management Committee. Cheema had been the strategy manager for two-time Pakistan Super League (PSL) winning side Islamabad United since 2015.
PCB added the first task of the selection committee is to name the players for the fast and spin bowling camps next month in Lahore, which will be announced in due course.
As far as the Babar Azam-led side is concerned, their next international assignments will be playing two Tests in Sri Lanka in July and three ODIs against Afghanistan in August. September will see them play in the 50-over Asia Cup, followed by the ODI World Cup in India in October-November.
December 2023 and January 2024 will see Pakistan tour Australia for three Tests, before playing hosts to the West Indies for two Tests and three T20Is in February and March.
In May 2024, Pakistan will be playing against Netherlands (three T20Is), Ireland (three T20Is) and England (five T20Is) before going to the West Indies and USA for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
–IANS
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