Pakistan Cricket cannot be run in this manner: Inzamam-ul-Haq

Inzamam ul haq (Photo Source: Twitter)

In a recent turn of events, former Pakistan cricket captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq, has voiced his discontent with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to remove Mohammed Hafeez as Team Director.

Inzamam raised concerns about the cricket board’s selective accountability, questioning the decision to remove Hafeez as team director while retaining Wahab Riaz as chief selector after the tours of Australia and New Zealand. He highlighted the similar responsibilities given to both and questioned why only Hafeez faced consequences.

“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?” Inzamam said on a TV show, as quoted by NDTV.

“Weren’t both appointed at same time and given same responsibilities so why has only Hafeez been held accountable and not Wahab Riaz?” he asked.

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The former cricket great, who stepped down as chief selector amid controversy at last year’s World Cup, urged the PCB to extend respect towards former players. He expressed disappointment, emphasizing that the PCB Chairman holds a highly respectable position, and former captains and stalwarts deserve a similar level of respect from the top board officials.

“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.

 I was hurt by this behavior from the Chairman: Inzamam

Inzamam, drawing from personal experience, recounted an incident with former PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf. He detailed an instance where, during a dispute over conflict of interest allegations, he felt disrespected.

“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. I was hurt by this behaviour 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 I told them I would resign and they can complete their inquiry,” Inzamam stated,” he added.

The cricket legend underscored the necessity for a more responsible and respectful approach from board officials, stating that Pakistan cricket cannot be run in the current manner. He emphasized that it is time for board officials to accept responsibility for their actions.

“Pakistan cricket cannot be run in this manner. It is time the board officials also accepted responsibility for their actions,” he concluded.

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