Frustrated with Mike Hesson, Aleem Dar resigns from Pakistan selection panel: Report

Senior Pakistan cricket selector Aleem Dar has reportedly resigned from his role on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) national selection committee following the team’s disappointing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.

Geo Super reported that Dar stepped down amid growing frustration over the significant authority exercised by head coach Mike Hesson in selection matters, as well as what he perceived to be a lack of opposition or intervention from fellow selector Aaqib Javed, after Pakistan failed to reach the semi-finals.

Dar, a former elite ICC umpire who joined the selection panel in October 2024, submitted his resignation to PCB officials following the team’s inability to qualify for the semi-finals, marking the



first major administrative fallout from the early World Cup exit.

Sources indicated that the 57-year-old had been increasingly frustrated by internal selection disputes, particularly disagreements over the inclusion of senior players such as Babar Azam and Shadab Khan, whose recent performances had reportedly come under scrutiny. Reports further suggest Dar was dissatisfied with the extent of authority exercised by Hesson in final selection decisions, becoming a key factor contributing to his resignation.

Dar’s departure leaves the selection committee comprising Aaqib Javed and Asad Shafiq, alongside data analyst Usman Hashmi, as the PCB evaluates its next steps in rebuilding the squad’s leadership structure.