Azhar Ali Resigns As PCB's Selector & Youth Development Head

Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali, PCB’s selector and head of youth development, stepped down from the dual role after nearly a year in the job. The decision has been confirmed that despite no public announcement about it from the Pakistan Cricket Board or Azhar himself.

The Underlying Reasons for the Resignation

According to reports, Azhar’s resignation came after a long period of disagreement between him and the board. Things reached a boiling point when Sarfaraz Ahmed was reportedly made the chief of Pakistan Shaheens and the Under-19 setup-an area which had a lot of overlap in terms of responsibilities with Azhar.

This new appointment gave Sarfaraz authority over youth team tours, training camps, and squad management-areas where Azhar felt his position had been compromised. He, therefore, resigned early this week, which the PCB accepted.

Tenure and Responsibilities of Azhar Ali

Azhar joined the PCB in October 2024 as part of the selection panel for the men’s national team. A month later, he was formally assigned the role of head of youth development, a position publicly highlighted on the PCB’s website.

Responsibilities included:

– The creation and implementation of long-term youth cricket plans,
– Development of solid foundations and systems for grassroots and talent pathways,
– Working proactively alongside regional associations to develop a robust age-group programming,
– Education of developing cricketers in a pathway environment as part of the PCB Pathways Programme.
– Delivery of off-field development seminars, workshops and presentations.

By having these responsibilities, he was in a prime position to shape the future representatives of Pakistan cricket. What Lies Ahead for Pakistan’s Youth Cricket Pakistan’s next big youth assignment is the 2026 Under-19 World Cup, which will be held from January 15 to February 6, 2026, in Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Pakistan have been clubbed with co-hosts Zimbabwe, Scotland, and England in the group stage. Pakistan has won the title twice earlier in 2004 and 2006.