Thu Nov 20 06:06:57 UTC 2025: Summary:

Former Pakistan Test captain Azhar Ali has resigned from his positions on the national selection committee and as head of youth development at the National Cricket Academy. Sources cite frustration with bureaucracy and a lack of consultation regarding the board’s decision to give Sarfaraz Ahmed complete control of the Pakistan Shaheens and under-19 teams as reasons for his departure. This move is part of a larger trend of turnover within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) involving former players and coaches.

News Article:

Azhar Ali Resigns from Key PCB Roles After Sarfaraz Ahmed Appointment

Lahore – In a surprise move, former Pakistan Test captain Azhar Ali has resigned from the national selection committee and his position as head of youth development at the National Cricket Academy, effective immediately. Sources close to Ali revealed that the decision stemmed from frustration with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) management style and a perceived lack of consultation regarding the appointment of fellow former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed to oversee the Pakistan Shaheens and under-19 teams.

“Azhar felt that a large part of his responsibilities were taken away without his consent,” a reliable source stated, highlighting Ali’s disappointment at the board’s decision to entrust Sarfaraz Ahmed with complete control of the Shaheens and under-19 programs.

Ali, who played 97 Test matches for Pakistan, began his tenure last year. While he had high hopes for contributing to the development of young cricketing talent, sources indicate that bureaucratic hurdles and unimplemented proposals hampered his efforts.

The PCB’s decision to grant Sarfaraz Ahmed complete authority over the Shaheens and under-19 teams, including selection matters, coaching performance oversight, and travel arrangements, proved to be the final straw for Ali.

This resignation adds to a growing trend of instability within the PCB, with several former players and coaches, including foreign hires, having departed before the completion of their contracts in recent years. Most recently, the PCB declined to renew Muhammad Wasim’s contract as head coach of the women’s team following their disappointing performance at the World Cup.

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