KARACHI, Oct 19: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Ijaz Butt, has directed new chief selector Saleem Jaffer to consult with the captain of the national side when selecting teams.

“I have been assured that the team will now be announced after consultations with the skipper,” captain Shoaib Malik told reporters after a meeting with Ijaz.

“The selection committee will convince the captain before naming the team, unlike the way it used to happen previously.”

Former chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf had given national selectors the final say in selecting touring squads and also the playing 11 for a home match.

Malik, who was named captain last year after Pakistan’s disappointing show in the World Cup led to the resignation of Inzamam-ul-Haq, said he had asked Ijaz to give more authority to the captain.

The board will review his performance as captain in December.

Chief selector Saleem Jaffer said the talks had gone well.

“We had a positive meeting with the captain and the chairman, in which he encouraged us all and told us we must work together with the captain,” Saleem added.—Reuters