Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has stepped down from his two major roles at the Pakistan Cricket Board, leaving positions on both the national men’s selection committee and as Head of Youth Development, sources told Geo News. His resignation comes unexpectedly, especially as the PCB continues pushing for stronger youth and player development systems.
Azhar joined the revamped selection committee in October 2024, working alongside former ICC umpire Aleem Dar, ex-Test pacer Aqib Javed, and panel member Asad Shafiq. The committee made bold decisions soon after taking charge, including dropping Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah during the England Test series. Though controversial, those changes played a key role in Pakistan’s dramatic 2 1 comeback victory.
Just a month later, Azhar was appointed PCB Head of Youth Development after a formal recruitment process. His sudden departure from both posts raises questions about ongoing challenges within Pakistan cricket’s management structure. The PCB has not yet issued an official statement on the resignation.
Azhar Ali remains one of Pakistan’s most respected players. Between 2010 and 2022, he earned 97 Test and 53 ODI caps, scoring 7,097 Test runs at an average of 42.49, making him Pakistan’s fifth-highest Test run scorer. He led the national side in nine Tests and 31 ODIs, and was a key figure in Pakistan’s historic 2017 ICC Champions Trophy triumph.
As Pakistan cricket continues its rebuilding phase, Azhar’s exit leaves a noticeable gap in both leadership and experience.
