Inzamam-ul-Haq Resigns as Chief Selector: ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

 

Inzamam-ul-Haq Resigns as Pakistan’s Chief Selector Amidst ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023

In a surprising turn of events, Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former legendary Pakistan captain, has decided to step down from his position as Pakistan’s chief selector during the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

Pakistan's Performance in the Tournament

The Pakistani team's performance in the tournament has been a mix of victories and defeats, securing two wins and facing four losses in their initial six matches. 

This leaves them with a slim chance, though not impossible, to secure a spot in the semi-finals.

Inzamam's Decision and PCB's Announcement

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made an official announcement on Monday, confirming Inzamam's departure from his role as chief selector. 

This decision comes as a response to pending internal investigations surrounding allegations of a conflict of interest.

Inzamam's Statement

Inzamam-ul-Haq, 53, stated, "I am stepping down from the post to give the PCB the opportunity to conduct a transparent inquiry about the conflict of interest allegations raised in the media. 

If the committee finds me not guilty, I will resume my role as the chief selector."

Inzamam's Tenure as Chief Selector

Inzamam-ul-Haq had previously held the position of men’s chief selector from 2016 to 2019. 

He returned to his role earlier this year in preparation for the Asia Cup.

Noteworthy Achievements

During his previous stint as chief selector, Pakistan clinched the prestigious 2017 ICC Champions Trophy by defeating arch-rivals India with a convincing margin of 180 runs at The Oval. 

Inzamam was also responsible for assembling the squad that secured victories in five out of the nine league games in the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England and Wales, though they fell short of advancing to the knockout stage.

Addressing Criticisms

The lackluster performance of the Pakistani team in India prompted criticism directed at both captain Babar Azam and Inzamam.

However, head coach Mikey Arthur, in a recent statement, cautioned against singling out individuals for blame.

Arthur emphasized, "It's really unfair to start a witch hunt, certainly on Babar Azam, on Inzi, on our coaches, on the management team.

What I do know is the boys have tried, and the effort of the coaching staff, and the effort of the players have been first-class. 

If they would see the amount of effort that the players and staff put in, they would be amazed."