Inzamam-ul-Haq decides to step down as Pakistan's chief selector

Former Pakistan captain and one of the country’s greatest ever batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq has decided to step down as Pakistan’s chief selector. The 49-year-old burly man came under criticism following the Men in Green’s disappointing performance in the just-concluded cricket World Cup and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) refused to extend his contract. Inzamam had taken a special initiative to be with the team on key tours to boost its performance but a streak of losses in bilateral series as well as the World Cup did not help his cause.

Inzamam had taken over as Pakistan chief selector in 2016

On Tuesday, Inzamam met the press to reveal that he would not seek an extension of his contract with the PCB once it expires at the end of July, London-based magazine The Cricketer reported. Pakistan lost their last three bilateral series against South Africa, Australia and England before finishing fifth in the World Cup despite a late resurgence.

Earlier, it was according to the sources that the former cricketer had shown interest in extending his contract for another year but the board wanted to go for a fresh new selection panel. Inzamam was holding the post since 2016 and it was his first-ever stint as a selector. He was the head coach of Afghanistan before that and had the contract till December 2016. However, the PCB requested the Afghanistan Cricket Board to release him early.

The name of former Test opener Mohsin Hasan Khan was doing the rounds as Inzamam’s successor as he has the experience of working in the same position with decent results. He has also served as the interim head coach of the national team.

Inzamam, who had worked as Pakistan’s batting consultant for a brief period in 2012-13, has played in 120 Tests, 378 ODIs and one T20I scoring over 20,000 international runs with 35 centuries. He was a key member of the Pakistan team that had won the World Cup in 1992. Initially, the PCB had not kept a fixed term for his period as the chief selector.

During his stint, Inzamam was also accused of nepotism by granting his nephew Imam-ul-Haq more chances than many thought he deserved.