Inzamamul Haq, the chief selector of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, on Monday announced that he has decided to step down from his post. He confirmed the news during an interview on SAMAA TV programme ‘Zor Ka Jor’. (AFG vs SL Match Blog | Scorecard | Streaming | Key Battles | Full Coverage)
He said, "“Allegations were made that I had a conversation with the [Pakistan cricket] board. Today, I went to the board and asked them to hold an inquiry if they had any doubts.
“Later I got a call that they had formed a five-member committee,” Haq said, adding that he subsequently decided to step down from the post until the committee completed the probe and its proceedings.
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Inzamam also added that he was willing to 'sit with the PCB' post the inquiry concluded.
“We are cricketers and we are available all the time to serve the country. Since I am facing an inquiry, and as the nature of my job is, I should step down and let them conduct the probe,” the former skipper stated.
He further went on to add that he was 'hurt' when people levelled allegations against him. “I am a human and it hurts. I have a 20-year cricket career during which I represented Pakistan. I am not someone who people don’t know. When such allegations are levelled, it hurts.”
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Inzamam's resignation is further complicated by the fact his 'conflict of interest' wherein he is a shareholder in 'Yazo International Limited', a company owned by cricketers' agent Talha Rehmani. It was reported back in Pakistan that some of the country's leading cricketers, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are represented by the company. Doubts were raised as to whether Inzamam's role as both Chief Selector and a shareholder in a company representing top cricketers could have played a part in selection.
The the PCB announced that it had set up a five-member fact-finding committee to investigate the above allegations in respect of conflict of interest reported in the media pertaining to the team selection process.
“The committee will submit its report and any recommendations to the PCB Management in an expeditious manner,” it said in a post on X, formerly as Twitter.
Talking about the Pakistan cricket team, the Babar Azam-led side currently sit in sixth position in the points table and have lost four matches of the possible 6 matches played. The Men In Green have had a torrid World Cup so far despite the early victories over Netherlands and Sri Lanka.
