The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed three individuals to the national men’s selection committee. The selection committee, consisting of Haroon Rashid as the Chair, Hassan Cheema as the Selection Committee Secretary and Manager Analytics and Team Strategy for National Men’s Side, Mickey Arthur as National Men’s Team’s Director, and Grant Bradburn as National Men’s Team’s Head Coach, will choose the senior, Shaheens, and U19 sides.
Cheema’s appointment is particularly noteworthy as he has prior experience as a strategy and data analyst in various franchise cricket leagues from around the world. It is expected that the presence of Cheema, Arthur, and Bradburn will help devise strategies for the approaching and upcoming series, enhance bench strength, and furthermore, provide a proper pathway to emerging players so that they may be included in the Shaheens and U19 sides for national representation.
It should be noted that the committee’s first primary task is to select players for the fast and spin bowling camps next month in Lahore. The names of selected players will be announced in due course.
Speaking to BBC Urdu, Sethi revealed Cheema’s current position as the Strategy Manager for Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United. Sethi further added that the aim is to incorporate data analysis in the selection process, and Cheema’s expertise will be of utmost importance.
Meanwhile, Arthur, who had previously coached Pakistan to No. 1 in Tests and T20Is during his time from 2016 to 2019, will serve as part of the coaching staff for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, away tour to Australia, home series against the West Indies, and Pakistan’s matches against India in the ACC Asia Cup.
Last week, the PCB announced Grant Bradburn’s appointment as the Head Coach of the National Men’s Side for a period of two years. Bradburn had previously served as the head coach of the Pakistan team during the recently-concluded home series against New Zealand in a consultancy capacity.
