Pakistan cricket has witnessed another unexpected twist as former captain Azhar Ali has reportedly tendered his resignation from his key positions within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), including his role as a member of the national selection committee.
According to sources, the 40-year-old will also be stepping away from his duties as head of youth development.
Azhar Ali’s exit raises fresh questions at a time when the PCB has placed major emphasis on long-term structure, talent pathways, and administrative stability.
Azhar joined the PCB’s revamped selection committee in October 2024, teaming up with Aleem Dar and Aqib Javed. The trio joined Asad Shafiq in a panel that took charge right after Pakistan’s innings defeat to England in Multan, a moment that triggered significant changes behind the scenes.
The new-look committee wasted no time making bold calls. Their most talked-about decision came when they opted to rest or drop senior stars Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah for the final two Tests of the England series. The move sparked heated debate across the cricketing fraternity but ultimately supported the team’s resurgence, as Pakistan turned the series around to secure an impressive 2-1 comeback win.
Just weeks later, in November 2024, Azhar Ali was appointed as the PCB’s head of youth development after a formal hiring process. The role placed him at the core of Pakistan cricket’s future blueprint, overseeing grassroots structures, guiding junior development pathways, and creating frameworks to elevate young talent toward the national setup.
His resignation from this strategic position is being seen as the bigger surprise, particularly given the board’s recent push to strengthen youth infrastructure and long-term planning. So far, the PCB has not issued any public statement on the reasons behind his decision.
With Azhar Ali’s sudden departure, the PCB now faces the challenge of restructuring both its selection committee setup and youth development department at a critical time. Whether this move hints at deeper changes within the board or simply a personal decision remains to be seen.
As the cricketing community awaits an official statement, one thing is clear: Azhar Ali leaves behind a legacy of integrity, experience, and service, both on the field and in the boardroom.
