Azhar Ali steps down as selector and head of youth development at PCB
This marks an end to a 12-month stint in the respective roles.
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Former cricketer Azhar Ali has exited his role as a selector of the Pakistan Cricket Board and head of youth development. This marks an end to a 12-month stint in the respective roles. Azhar was initially appointed as a member of the PCB’s selection committee back in October 2024.
It has been understood that one of the primary reasons behind Azhar's departure is due to the prolonged period of differences in terms of vision created between him and the board. Tensions reached their peak when Sarfaraz Ahmed was named as the head of the Pakistan Shaheens and Under-19 teams.
Word is that Azhar felt that the appointment of Sarfaraz in a role which was quite closely aligned with his own set of responsibilities made his position easily replaceable, as per ESPNcricinfo. The PCB is understood to have accepted the resignation letter.
At the time of his appointment, the board had confirmed Azhar Ali's roles and responsibilities as “tasked with shaping the future of Pakistan cricket by designing and implementing comprehensive youth cricket strategies, establishing robust grassroots cricket structures and talent pathways, collaborating with regional cricket associations to strengthen age-group programmes, educating emerging cricketers under the PCB's Pathways Programme, and organizing seminars and clinics to build awareness of off-field development essentials for aspiring players.”
ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup schedule, no IND vs PAK game
Pakistan Shaheens are currently involved in the 2025 Asia Cup Rising Stars. The next major assignment for the age-group side will be the 2026 Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia. They have won it twice (2004 and 2006). Meanwhile, the senior international side is currently hosting Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in a T20I Tri-Series at home. They are coming quite confidently into the assignment after thrashing the Lankan Lions in the ODI series by a comprehensive 3-0 margin.
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