Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali ⁢has resigned from his position as teh Pakistan Cricket Board‘s (PCB) Head of Youth Development, citing an unsustainable ‍workload.He⁢ submitted his resignation earlier this ⁤week, and the PCB has accepted it, according to ESPNcricinfo.

Background and Appointment

Azhar Ali, who previously captained Pakistan in both Test and One Day International (ODI) formats, was initially appointed to the PCB as ⁤a member of the selection panel for the Pakistan men’s ‍national side in October 2024. Just a month later, in November 2024, he was given the ⁢additional role of Head of Youth Development, a move⁤ publicly announced by the PCB.​ ESPNcricinfo reported on ‌his appointment at the time.

Responsibilities of the Role

The PCB outlined a comprehensive mandate for Ali in his role,⁣ stating he was “tasked with shaping the future of Pakistan cricket by designing and implementing comprehensive youth cricket strategies, establishing robust grassroots cricket structures and talent pathways, collaborating with regional cricket associations to strengthen age-group programmes, educating emerging cricketers under the PCB’s pathways ⁢Program, and organising seminars and clinics to build awareness of off-field development essentials⁣ for aspiring players.”⁤ This broad scope of responsibilities appears to ⁣have contributed to the challenges he faced.

Impact on the 2026 Under-19 World Cup

Ali’s resignation comes ahead of a crucial period for ‍Pakistan’s youth cricket program,‍ with the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup scheduled to take place⁢ in Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6, 2026.pakistan is in a challenging ⁤Group A ⁤alongside co-hosts Zimbabwe, Scotland, and England. ‍ Pakistan has a strong history ⁢in the tournament, having won the title⁣ in 2004 and 2006.