The head of Pakistan’s cricket team selection, Inzamam-ul-Haq, quit his job on Monday. He made this decision after some people on social media said there might be a “conflict of interest.”
Inzamam stated,
“People are talking without proof. If they want to check, I’m ready for it.”
He also denied any connection to a company owned by a players’ agent, which is where the issue came from.
Inzamam added that he’ll talk with cricket board officials once things calm down. There was talk of him having shares in a company linked to a players’ agent who works with top Pakistani cricketers, and this raised questions about fairness in player selection.
In a statement, Ashraf said he didn’t meet Inzamam before his resignation. He only called Inzamam to get an explanation about the ongoing issue. Instead of clarifying, Inzamam resigned.
The problem stemmed from allegations against Inzamam. He stepped down because it was revealed that he had shares in a company owned by a players’ agent, Talha Rehmani. This raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest since Rehmani represents top Pakistani cricketers, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
People were also wondering if Inzamam’s dual roles as Chief Selector and a shareholder in a company representing these players influenced player selection decisions.
He said,
“I’m stepping down so the PCB can investigate the conflict of interest allegations in the media. If they find me innocent, I’ll come back as the chief selector.”
The PCB appreciates Inzamam’s decision and has formed a five-member committee to investigate these allegations thoroughly. This committee will focus on claims related to conflicts of interest in the team selection process and will report its findings to the PCB Management promptly.
It’s important to note that he became the head selector in August and previously held the position from 2016 to 2019, during which Pakistan’s team won the Champions Trophy in 2017.