LAHORE: Ten months into its regime, the Ehsan Mani-led Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made its first change in men’s cricket, replacing Basit Ali with Saleem Jaffar as the new chief selector to head the five-member national junior team selection committee.

Former paceman Saleem had been a member of the national senior team selection committee under Salahuddin Sallu during Dr. Nasim Ashraf’s tenure as PCB chairman and now will head a team that will include fellow former Pakistan internationals Asrshad Khan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum and Taufeeq Umar. Sanaullah Baloch from Quetta is the only survivor of the previous selection committee of Basit.

“I am honoured that the PCB has entrusted me with this posting,” Saleem was quoted as saying in a PCB news release on Wednesday. “I look forward to playing my part in the growth and development of junior cricket, as well as providing opportunities to the deserving players so that they can cherish their dreams of representing Pakistan.”

Basit had previously been the head coach of the women’s team but it seems his time in the PCB has come to an end after he disappointed in both his previous position and the current one.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced a new five-person men’s junior selection committee, which will be headed by former international cricketer Saleem Jaffar,” the PCB stated.

“The panel also includes three modern day internationals in Arshad Khan, Rao Iftikhar Anjum and Taufeeq Umer, while Sanaullah Baloch, who played 27 first-class matches for Quetta between 2001 and 2008, has been retained from the previous panel.

“The panel will assume charge from 1 July and will be responsible for selecting the youth sides, including Pakistan U13, U16 and U19s. Their first assignment will potentially be the selection of the Pakistan U19 for the ACC U19 Asia Cup to be played in Sri Lanka in September.”

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2019