Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced Bilal Afzal as the Advisor to the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi in the Ex-Officio members of the committee.
The committee includes former cricketers, Azhar Mahmood (Assistant coach), Hassan Cheema (manager analytics and team strategy), Nadeem Khan (Director of High Performance), and Usman Wahla (Director of International Cricket).
While every name on the list seems normal, there is an issue when it comes to the advisor to the PCB Chairman. Following the unveiling of the list, it was revealed that Bilal Afzal, who has been appointed as the advisor to Mohsin Naqvi in the committee, has no prior experience when it comes to cricket other than being appointed as the data analyst in the selection committee in the current regime previously.
Bilal Afzal has served as Punjab’s Caretaker Minister for Environment Protection, Caretaker Minister For Forrest Wildlife and Fisheries, and Caretaker Minister for Planning and Development during the tenure of the caretaker government last year, under the stewardship of caretaker Punjab CM, Mr Mohisn Naqvi.
The Minister held all of these important positions in the government of Punjab and now it seems he has also developed the expertise to become advisor to PCB Chairman.
This is certainly a poignant reminder of where sports is heading in Pakistan and that certain people are only there to fill the quota seats in apparently high-profile positions.
From data analyst to member of the selection committee to advisor to the Chairman. Bilal Afzal has proved that good connections can make you a connoisseur in anything.
The decision should be scrutinized as it seems like the PCB is making a blatant error of judgment. This appointment truly seems like the murder of meritocracy.