Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousaf on Sunday announced to resign as a member of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee, citing “personal reasons”, after six months of his appointment.

The ex-right handed batsman lauded the Men in Green’s game spirit and wished them all the best. He was proud to have contributed in the team’s growth, he added.

“I announce my resignation as a selector for the Pakistan cricket team due to personal reasons. Serving this incredible team has been a profound privilege, and I am proud to have contributed to the growth and success of Pakistan Cricket.

“I have immense faith in the talent and spirit of our players, and Wish our team all the best as they continue to strive for greatness,” he wrote on X.

Yousaf was appointed as a member of the Pakistan team’s selection committee in March this year.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on March 24 announced a reorganised national selection committee comprising seven members.

Speaking during a press conference in Lahore, Naqvi had said that the committee would not have a chairman and all seven members would have equal powers.

Following Green Shirts’ dismal performance and elimination from the T20 World Cup 2024, the PCB had made major changes in the team management by sacking former pacer Wahab Riaz and former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq from the seven-member selection committee while retaining Yousuf, Asad Shafiq and Bilal Afzal.

Wahab was a member of the men’s selection committee, whereas Razzaq was part of the selection committees for both men’s and women’s teams.

Furthermore, the board had removed Riaz from the post of senior team manager as well along with team manager Rana Mansoor due to the lack of discipline during the last three tours of the men’s team.

Lahore: Former cricketer and member of the Pakistan national cricket team’s selection committee Muhammad Yusuf has resigned from his position, citing personal reasons.

In his resignation statement, Yusuf expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve Pakistan cricket. “It was an honor to contribute to the team’s success,” he said, while praising the players’ talent and dedication. He wished the team continued success in future challenges.

Yusuf also tweeted, “I resign as a selector for the Pakistan cricket team due to personal reasons. Serving this team was a privilege, and I am proud to have played a part in Pakistan Cricket’s growth.”

He thanked his colleagues and offered best wishes to the national team as they move forward.

Lahore: An important meeting was held under the chairmanship of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Mohsin Naqvi, in which preparations for Champions Trophy Tournament 2025 were reviewed.

In the meeting, Mohsin Naqvi reviewed the ongoing Champions Cup and Stadiums Upgradation project in Faisalabad and directed to form necessary committees for the Champions Trophy tournament.

On this occasion, the Chairman PCB said: “The responsibilities of each committee should be decided and the work should be started. The big teams of the world are coming to the Champions Trophy tournament, we need to prepare well”.

He directed to speed up the work on the stadiums’ upgrade project, while it was also discussed to play Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in Faisalabad.

The meeting was attended by Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer, Chief Financial Officer Javed Murtaza, all PCB directors and concerned officials.

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday ordered the formation of necessary committees for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy tournament, slated for February 2025.

The directive came during a high-level meeting, held at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore, to review the key preparations for the international event.

During the meeting, detailed discussions took place regarding the ICC Champions Trophy, along with an update on the Champions One Day Cup, currently being held in Faisalabad. Additionally, the progress of the stadium upgradation project was assessed.

Naqvi emphasised the urgency of creating the required committees for the tournament, with clear responsibilities assigned to ensure a swift start to operations. “With some of the world’s top teams set to compete, our arrangements must be flawless,” he said.

The PCB chief also highlighted the importance of accelerating the pace of work on the stadium renovation project.

He stressed that all efforts should be made to ensure the upgrades are completed within the stipulated time, enhancing the viewing experience for cricket fans. “Once the renovations are done, the spectators will enjoy the matches even more,” Naqvi added.

He praised the enthusiasm shown by the people of Faisalabad during the Champions Cup matches, hinting at the possibility of holding Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in the city.

The meeting was attended by PCB officials, including Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer, Chief Financial Officer Javed Murtaza, all PCB directors, and other relevant stakeholders.

It must be noted Naqvi is expected to meet newly-appointed ICC Chairman Jay Shah in October during the final match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup — set to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, in order to confirm logistical arrangements, the PCB is awaiting the final approval of the Champions Trophy’s schedule.

In a recent meeting with ICC officials, the PCB requested to announce the schedule as soon as possible to ensure smooth preparations of the event.

According to sources, PCB has made provisional bookings based on the proposed schedule and will be finalising it soon.

The cricket-governing body is expected to make an official announcement regarding the schedule by the end of October.

Meanwhile, the meeting between Naqvi and Shah will be highlighting the participation of the Men in Blue in the forthcoming event in Pakistan.

Earlier, the ICC delegation visited and reviewed the arrangements in the venues decided for the most-awaited event, including Karachi, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Lahore.

It is worth mentioning here that the delegation was satisfied with security arrangements and protocols arranged for the tournament next year.

The ICC delegation included Sarah Edgar, Senior Manager of Events; Aun Muhammad Zaidi, Event Manager and Champions Trophy Event Lead; Wasim Khan, General Manager of Cricket; David Masker, Security Manager’ and Mansoor Manj, Broadcast Consultant.