In a surprising turn of events, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed current Test captain Shan Masood as the Consultant for International Cricket and Players' Affairs. The announcement, made on Friday, has raised eyebrows throughout the cricket world, as it is rare for a current player to simultaneously hold a significant administrative position.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi revealed the decision during a reception for the Pakistan and South African teams, attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The PCB later confirmed the appointment in an official statement. Masood, 36, will take on the consultant's role while continuing to play Test cricket for Pakistan.
According to the PCB, Masood's responsibilities will include overseeing the board's international cricket operations and strengthening coordination and strategy for the national team's engagements abroad. The PCB aims to leverage Masood's international experience to support cricket development and decision-making. The job description released by PCB stated that the role is a "multi-dimensional leadership role, emphasising the management of the Pakistan team and the supervision of international cricket operations". The functions include planning, organizing, executing, and overseeing international tours.
Masood has played 44 Tests, nine ODIs, and 19 T20Is for Pakistan, scoring 3,108 international runs, including six Test centuries. He has captained Pakistan in 14 Tests, including the recent two-match series against South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship. Under his leadership, Pakistan defeated England 2-1 last year, their first Test series win against England on home soil since 2005.
This move comes after the PCB suspended its Director of International Cricket, Usman Wahla, last month. Wahla's suspension stemmed from delays in handling communication to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the Asia Cup 'handshake controversy'. Wahla has been reinstated and will take on responsibilities in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The appointment of Masood has sparked debate, with some questioning the compliance with PCB regulations. The PCB constitution does not allow current players to hold positions on the board. Others suggest a potential conflict of interest could arise from Masood overseeing player affairs while still actively playing alongside or leading those players.
Despite the concerns, the PCB seems confident that Masood is the right person for the job. Sources within the board suggest there was a consensus that Masood was the best choice to lead the international cricket affairs department. Some reports say that the PCB had advertised the director role with eligibility criteria requiring candidates to have played both Tests and ODIs for Pakistan. Masood meets these qualifications.
Time will tell how Masood balances his playing duties with his administrative responsibilities and whether this unusual experiment will benefit Pakistan cricket.
