PCB’s woes mount as chief selector threatens to quit after Pakistan Asia Cup debacle

In a dramatic turn of events during the 2023 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, Pakistan legend Inzamam-ul-Haq threatened to resign from his position as chief selector of the Pakistan men’s cricket team. The agitation arose from Inzamam’s desire to have full authority to grant No Objection Certificates (NOC) to players for their participation in various T20 leagues, a request which the PCB rejected, citing a possible conflict of interest.

3 things you need to know

• Inzamam-ul-Haq also earlier threatened to resign
• Inzamam chose Pakistan’s squad for the 2019 World Cup
• Pakistan was eliminated from the Asia Cup in the group stage

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PCB and Inzamam reached an agreement

With the prospect of Inzamam resigning, the PCB contemplated appointing Misbah ul Haq or Nadeem Khan as chief selector, Cricket Pakistan reported. However, a confidential agreement was eventually negotiated between Inzamam-ul-Haq and PCB officials, preventing his departure.

This was the second time Inzamam threatened to resign since taking office on August 7, following the departure of Haroon Rasheed. Curiously, Inzamam and the PCB had not formalized their employment relationship through a contract.

In an earlier clash, Inzamam had demanded a long-term contract, leading to negotiations with PCB management committee chairman Zaka Ashraf. Finally, Inzamam signed a three-year contract with a monthly salary of over Rs 20 lakh, which was officially announced on August 31.

This marks Inzamam’s second stint as chief selector, having previously held the position from 2016 to 2019, during which he selected the Pakistan team for the 2019 World Cup in England.

Pakistan’s Asia Cup debacle

The timing of this turmoil could not be worse for Pakistan as they are currently the second-ranked team in ODIs but recently suffered disappointing defeats to India and Sri Lanka in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup.

Several Pakistani players underperformed during the tournament and key players Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf succumbed to injuries. With the World Cup less than four weeks away and the deadline to announce the final team set for September 28, Inzamam faces the difficult task of making crucial decisions to bolster Pakistan’s chances on the global stage.