Shafiq and Razzaq become part of Pakistan women’s selection committee

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken decisive action by revamping the national women’s cricket selection committee in the wake of Pakistan’s disappointing 3-0 ODI series defeat against the West Indies at home.

Composition of the New Committee:

A new-look seven-member selection committee has been formed, as announced in a recent PCB press release. Asmavia Iqbal and Marina Iqbal, both former Pakistan internationals, will retain their positions from the previous panel. They are joined by some notable additions:

• Abdul Razzaq and Asad Shafiq, current members of the men’s national selection committee.
• Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Batool Fatima.

The committee will also include the head coach, currently Mohtashim Rasheed, and captain, Nida Dar. It’s worth noting that former fast bowler Saleem Jaffar is no longer part of the selection process.

The revamped committee’s immediate task is to finalize the squad for Pakistan’s upcoming tour of England. The tour itinerary features three T20Is and three crucial ODIs scheduled from May 11 to 29. These ODIs are part of the ongoing ICC Women’s ODI Championship 2022-25, which holds significant weight in determining qualification for the prestigious 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Pakistan currently sits in fifth position on the ICC Women’s ODI Championship table. They have managed eight wins but suffered 13 losses in the 21 ODIs played thus far. Teams such as Australia, South Africa, England, and New Zealand outrank them in the standings. The top five teams from the championship, along with hosts India, will secure direct qualification for the World Cup, leaving the remaining teams to battle for spots through a qualifier tournament.

Performance Analysis:

Pakistan’s recent ODI series against West Indies exposed areas for improvement. The series began with a heavy 113-run defeat, followed by a narrow two-wicket loss, and concluded with an 88-run setback. West Indies batter Hayley Matthews dominated the series, amassing a staggering 325 runs at an average of 162.50, including scores of 140*, 44, and 141. Interestingly, she also shared the leading wicket-taker position with Pakistan’s captain Nida Dar, claiming six wickets.

As the revamped selection committee concentrates on the upcoming England tour, Pakistan faces its next immediate on-field challenge: a five-match T20I series against West Indies, beginning on April 26 and ending on May 3, with all matches set to take place in Karachi.