Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief selector Inzamam ul Haque resigned midway through the World Cup. The agency has already started an investigation against him after allegations of a possible conflict of interest surfaced.
Inzamam met PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf in Lahore on Monday. Following this, the 53-year-old former cricketer immediately stepped down from his duties. The PCB also confirmed his resignation in a statement.
Explaining his decision in a PCB statement, Inzamam said, “I am resigning to allow the PCB to conduct a transparent inquiry into the allegations of conflict of interest raised in the media.”
Pakistani media reports have revealed that Inzamam is one of the four active directors of UK-based business firm Yazoo International Limited. Another director of the company is Talha Rehmani, managing director of Saya Corporation. The company acts as the agent of many cricketers of the Pakistan team. Among them are stars like captain Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan. According to a UK government public sector information website, besides Inzamam, Rizwan is also a director of Yazoo. Company Secretary Inzamam’s brother Intisar ul Haque.
On December 7, 2020, three directors and a secretary were appointed to the organization. When Inzamam was named Pakistan’s chief selector earlier this year, his involvement with Yazoo or his brothers Rizwan and Rehmani was not revealed. This raises an uncomfortable question for Inzamam as to whether it is fit and proper for him as a national team selector to have a direct stake in a company whose director is the agent of some of Pakistan’s most famous players.
If found innocent, former Pakistan captain Inzamam will return to duty, “If the inquiry committee finds me not guilty, I will resume my duties as chief selector.”
The PCB then announced that a five-member fact-finding committee had been set up to investigate allegations of conflict of interest related to the team’s selection process that had surfaced in the media. The committee will submit their findings on ‘fast track’.
The sudden resignation of Inzamam, the chief selector for the second term, is undoubtedly a big blow for Pakistan. Because the team is already suffering from the dirty performance of the field. All hopes of reaching the semi-finals at the World Cup have ended after winning just two of their six matches.
