On his return from the tour of England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could ask Misbah Ul Haq to quit the national chief selector role and focus solely on his head coach position with the senior Pakistan side. 

A source within the PCB told PTI that the board is considering the appointment of a high-profile former fast bowler to replace Misbah as the chairman of the selection panel. Misbah took over in his dual role arrangement last year, as the PCB replicated the same coach-selector model at the domestic regional level also. 

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“The PCB now feels that it is best if the burden was reduced on Misbah and allow him to focus on his job as head coach as there are a number of important ICC events coming up in the next three years,” the source said. 

“Wasim Khan the PCB CEO was in England recently and has also observed from close quarters how Misbah is handling both responsibilities. Wasim also spoke to Misbah in England and having a new chief selector is now an option for the Board."

“When Misbah was initially appointed as head coach and chief selector last year, the first person in Pakistan cricket history to be given this dual role, there was scepticism whether the former captain would be able to do justice to both responsibilities," the source added.

The PCB source further said the board isn't too happy with Misbah's choices during the ongoing Test series in the UK and feels a different perspective with regards to selections could help the side more. 

“A former fast bowler known for his outspoken comments and who was a big star in his playing days is under consideration (as Misbah's replacement) and after the England series is over things will be finalized with him," the source said.

"The feeling is that in the third Test where a fifth bowler should have been played and also one pacer rotated, Misbah came under pressure from the social media and media and retained Fawad Alam in the playing eleven."

This is perhaps a follow up to the recent induction of three new members, former Test players Basit Ali, Faisal Iqbal and Abdul Razzaq, to the selection committee. 

In an important matter, the source said there are no plans as yet to move past Azhar Ali as Test skipper. Ali's tenure after replacing Sarfaraz Ahmed has seen Pakistan go down 2-0 in Australia and struggle during the Tests in England so far while his returns with the bat have declined significantly over the last two-three years. 

“All this talk about him being removed as captain after the series is not happening because he has been appointed captain for 12 months by the Pakistan board,” the source said. 

"So after the England series Azhar has the opportunity to play in domestic cricket and get back his form and carry on as captain."