Whatmore calls the shots as Pakistan revamps policies

The revamped policy decisions saw Misbah-ul-Haq removed as captain of the T20 squad and also dropped as a player for the format while allrounder and close friend, Mohammad Hafeez was not only appointed T20 captain but also given the position of being deputy to Misbah in tests and ODIs.

Hafeez's promotion and preference over former captains, Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi confirmed that the board was ready to give Whatmore his say in cricket matters.

Insiders told PTI that it was Whatmore and Intikhab Alam, an influential figure in the board and the head of the national cricket academy, who had backed Hafeez for the new roles although the PCB chairman, Zaka Ashraf and chief selector, Iqbal Qasim were in favour of having Shahid Afridi as the T20 captain.

"The fact that for the first time in Pakistan cricket the selectors have announced separate squads for Tests, ODIs and T20 cricket with several changes in their line ups show that Whatmore is calling the shots.

"The debate over whether Hafeez was ready for the new responsibilities was the reason the announcement of the teams was delayed for one day," a reliable source said.

Malik, who was thought to be a strong candidate for the T20 captaincy, surprisingly was only included in the T20 squad but ignored for selection in the other two formats.

As expected Ashraf had words of praise for Misbah at a press conference called to announce the new policy decisions.

"Misbah has done a wonderful job as captain in difficult times for Pakistan cricket and we salute him. But it is time to move on and everyone felt we need to start afresh in T20 cricket," Ashraf said. MORE