"Pakistan Cricket Cannot Be Run In This Manner": Inzamam-Ul-Haq

04 March, 2024

Inzamam-ul-Haq, former captain of the team, has criticized the move, saying it is unfair to "target" former players for administrative positions when the officials refuse to take accountability for the team's performance.

Following a 1-4 T20 International series loss to New Zealand and a 0-3 Test series loss in Australia, the PCB had parted ways with Hafeez last month. After the T20 series in New Zealand, Hafeez's first short-term contract came to an end, as the Sports Ministry recommended against signing a long-term deal.

In a TV show Inzamam said "Can someone explain the reasoning behind removing Muhammad Hafeez as team director but retaining Wahab Riaz as chief selector after the Australian and New Zealand tours?"

He further asked that "Weren't both appointed at same time and given same responsibilities so why has only Hafeez been held accountable and not Wahab Riaz?"

The former cricket player also asked the PCB to start treating players with respect. He quit in an unpleasant manner from his position as top selector during the World Cup last year.

"The PCB Chairman no doubt is a highly respectable position but don't former captains and stalwarts deserve the same amount of respect from the top board officials," said Inzamam.

Inzamam said that previous PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf treated him disrespectfully when he was at odds with the Board over claims of conflict of interest.

"We had a meeting scheduled at the PCB offices after this story about me having a conflict of interest as chief selector broke out.

"I was sitting with (PCB officials) Salman Naseer and Aliya Rasheed waiting for the chairman to come," he recalled.

"But he went to the academy and from there called Naseer and Aliya to meet him and I was told to wait as he would not be seeing me. Only Aliya returned after a time and told me about the inquiry committee," he added.

According to Inzamam the attitude of Zaka Ashraf was hurtful.

Inzamam stated that “I was hurt by this behavior from the Chairman. Every detail of agents and their companies who work with players are available with ICC and PCB and it was not such a big deal and I told them I would resign and they can complete their inquiry,"

The former captain stated that he had not yet received the results of the inquiry committee's investigation into his conflict of interest matter from the PCB.

He declared that "Pakistan cricket cannot be run in this manner. It is time the board officials also accepted responsibility for their actions,"

Additionally, Inzamam stated that because the previous selection committee had chosen the team before to the Asia Cup last year, he had never wanted to take on the position of chief selector.