Giles steps down from selector role, Newell takes over

Reuters /LondonAshley Giles has stepped down as an England selector and Mick Newell will take his place on the panel, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Friday. Former England spinner Giles was recently overlooked for the national team’s director of cricket job and Peter Moores was appointed to the role. “Ashley Giles has informed ECB today that he intends to step down from the panel and I would like to thank him for all his hard work and dedication to the England cause over the past six years both as a selector, and more recently as our Limited Overs Coach,” chairman of selectors James Whitaker said in an ECB statement. “We welcome Mick to the panel and his passion, cricketing knowledge and in-depth understanding of our county game will be invaluable as we seek to identify potential international talent and develop outstanding England teams across all three formats of the game.” The 49-year-old Newell has coached English county Nottinghamshire for the past 12 years. Giles, former director of cricket at Warwickshire, was in charge of England’s one-day teams from 2012 until this year’s World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh when they failed to get past the group stage. Irfan in fitness racePakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan’s injured hip will not require surgery, suggesting a return to the Pakistan team prior to next year’s World Cup.Irfan, who has not played international cricket since November 2013, has recovered from a hairline fracture sustained during the tour of South Africa.“Irfan isn’t available immediately for national selection as yet but we have made a plan for him ahead of 2015 World Cup,” National Cricket Academy head coach Mohammad Akram told ESPNcricinfo.“We are targeting the one-dayers against Australia and New Zealand for him later this year to give him the required tempo.” The lanky right-armer has played four Tests, seven Twenty20 Internationals and 27 ODIs, snaring 52 wickets.