Asad Shafiq Appointed Director of Hanif Mohammad High Performance Center

KARACHI: Former Test cricketer and current national selection committee member, Asad Shafiq, has been designated as the director of the Hanif Mohammad high performance center located in Karachi, according to sources on Wednesday.

Sources indicate that Shafiq will take on these added responsibilities while remaining a part of the national selection committee.

Shafiq previously contributed to Pakistan’s selection committee and later was appointed to the women’s selection committee.

The women’s selection committee includes former cricketers Asmavia Iqbal and Marina Iqbal, alongside Abdul Razzaq and Asad Shafiq (both also serving on the men’s national selection committee), and former international player Batool Fatima.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi established this committee on April 25, 2024. Saleem Jaffar previously held the position of chief selector for the women’s team.

However, due to the team’s subpar performance, Naqvi, expressed discontent with the recent outcomes and chose to implement alterations in the selection panel.

Reports suggest that former cricketer Azam Khan has been named as the head coach of the facility, building a robust management team with a focus on the advancement of players.

The PCB has not yet formally announced these appointments.

Shafiq played in 77 Test matches for Pakistan, amassing 4,660 runs at an average of 38.19, with 12 centuries and 27 half-centuries.

Additionally, he participated in 60 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 10 T20 Internationals for the national team.

The Karachi-born right-handed batsman retired from professional cricket in December 2023 after leading Karachi Whites to victory in the National T20 title.

Throughout his career, Shafiq was a significant member of Pakistan’s Test batting lineup from 2010 to 2020. He also had a successful domestic career, accumulating over 12,000 runs in 191 first-class matches and 5,784 runs in 162 List A matches.