Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf has stepped down from his role as the selector for the Pakistan national cricket team, citing personal reasons.

The 50-year-old made the announcement via a post on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) on Sunday (September 29), expressing his gratitude for being part of the team’s growth. Yousuf stated, "Serving this incredible team has been a profound privilege, and I am proud to have contributed to the growth and success of Pakistan Cricket." He also added, "I have immense faith in the talent and spirit of our players, and wish our team all the best as they continue to strive for greatness."

Yousuf, a legendary batter with over 17,000 international runs, was appointed as a selector in March 2024. His resignation comes after a difficult period for Pakistan cricket, which saw them knocked out of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the group stage and a disappointing 0-2 Test series loss to Bangladesh on home soil. Despite these challenges, Yousuf remained part of the selection committee until now, having selected the squad for the upcoming Test series against England, scheduled to begin in Multan on October 7.

A source close to Yousuf revealed that the former cricketer was unhappy with the constant criticism he faced, particularly from colleagues and media outlets. "He was restless at being ridiculed in the media and on social media regularly and felt it would be best to just focus on coaching," the source said. Yousuf will continue his role as a batting coach at the PCB’s National High Performance Centre.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also issued a statement following Yousuf’s resignation, thanking him for his services. "The PCB expresses its sincere gratitude to Mohammad Yousuf for his invaluable contributions during his tenure as a selection committee member. Yousuf will continue to play a pivotal role at the PCB, sharing his extensive knowledge and experience as the batting coach at the High Performance Centre," the PCB said.

Yousuf’s departure adds another chapter to Pakistan cricket’s recent turmoil. Earlier this year, the PCB restructured the selection committee, which initially had seven members, including Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, Wahab Riaz, and Abdul Razzaq. After Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup exit, both Wahab and Razzaq were removed from their positions, leaving Yousuf and Shafiq as the remaining selectors alongside team captains and coaches. Now, with Yousuf stepping down, Shafiq is the only voting member left from the initial committee.

Pakistan cricket will now need to find a replacement for Yousuf as the team prepares for the Test series against England, with the first match set to take place in Multan. The series will be crucial for the Men in Green as they look to regain their form after a string of losses in international cricket.