Inzamam-ul-Haq resigned as the head selector of the Pakistan national team, demonstrating the ongoing discord within the team. In parallel, a five-person committee has been established by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to look into claims of conflicts of interest in the World Cup team selection process.
The legendary former captain of Pakistan, Inzamam, stated he would like to step away while an investigation is conducted after the PCB announced on Monday that it had formed a panel to look into the matter. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) previously announced, “A five-member fact-finding committee has been established by the PCB to look into claims of conflict of interest related to the team selection process that have been made public in the media. The committee will promptly deliver its report and any recommendations to the PCB Management.”
The news of the move comes amid rumors that Inzamam (53), who played in 370 ODIs and 120 Tests, is connected to a player management company that also looks after Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.
“We are cricket players who are always willing to serve our nation. Given the nature of my work and the inquiry I’m facing, I ought to step aside and let them look into it. It hurts because I’m a human. Throughout my 20-year cricket career, I played for Pakistan. I am not an unknown person to the public. It stings when these kinds of accusations are made,” he reportedly told the television station, according to the Dawn website.
Pakistan’s performance in the current World Cup has been below average; they have lost four of their six games and are all but eliminated from the running for a semifinal spot, leaving just an impossible mathematical chance. One of the losses came against Afghanistan, a team that is relatively new to cricket. On Tuesday, they take on Bangladesh at the Eden.
Later, Inzamam’s resignation was officially announced by the PCB, who expressed gratitude for the former captain’s choice in a statement. An acknowledgment was made in the Pakistan board statement that “the PCB appreciates and acknowledges Inzamam’s decision to voluntarily step down during this investigation,” along with a statement from the top selector who was leaving.
“To give the PCB the chance to openly investigate the conflict of interest claims made in the media, I am resigning from my position. I would return to my position as chief selector if the committee deems me not guilty,” Inzamam declared.
On August 7, Inzamam was named chairman of the national men’s committee. In addition, he headed the committee responsible for selecting younger personnel.