PCB likely to reshuffle national cricket taem after Bangladesh Test series defeat

LAHORE – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to introduce fresh changes in the national team structure following another disappointing Test series loss to Bangladesh last month, with key decisions likely to be taken by the end of this week. The sources said that a high-level meeting is likely on Friday in this regard. They said that Mohsin Naqvi would be briefed about the performance of Captain Shan Masood, coaching staff and others including High Performance Director Aaqib Javed. Sources said that a major leadership change is under consideration, with T20 captain Salman Ali Agha emerging as the frontrunner to take over Test captaincy from Shan Masood. Shan has struggled to deliver consistent results in the longest format since being appointed in 2023. Under his leadership, Pakistan have played 16 Test matches and lost 12, raising questions over the team’s direction in red-ball cricket. While Salman Ali Agha has shown promise as a leader in T20 cricket, his own batting and all-round performances have been inconsistent. Concerns are being raised within cricket circles that adding Test captaincy responsibilities may further increase pressure on him. In another development, former captain Mohammad Hafeez is being considered for a key administrative position within the PCB, most likely as Director of International Cricket. The post has remained vacant since the removal of Usman Wahla several months ago, with no official advertisement issued so far. Similarly, the role of Director of Domestic Cricket has not been permanently filled since Abdullah Khurram Niazi was transferred to the Capital Development Authority. At present, the department is being managed by senior officials, while unverified reports suggest Niazi may still be involved in an advisory capacity. Meanwhile, Aaqib Javed’s multiple roles within the PCB setup are also expected to come under review. Over the past two years, he has served in various capacities, including selector, interim head co