Inzamam-ul-Haq steps down as Pakistan chief selector

Pakistan chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq stepped down as the chief selector on Wednesday but was open to take up any new assignment from the Cricket Board.

The under-fire chief selector told a press conference in Lahore that he would not seek an extension or renewal of his contract, which expires on July 31.

“After more than three years as chief selector, I have decided not to seek a renewal of my contract,” the former skipper said.

“With the ICC World Test Championship due to get underway in September, the ICC T20 World Cup in 2020 and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, I believe it is the right time for the Pakistan Cricket Board to appoint a new chief selector who can bring in new ideas and fresh thinking.

“I spoke to PCB chairman Ehsan Mani and Managing Director Wasim Khan on Monday and conveyed my decision to them separately. I also thanked them for backing and supporting the selection committee since taking over the reins of Pakistan cricket,” Inzamam, the most capped Test player, said.

A veteran of 120 Tests came under severe criticism as the chief selector for being uncertain about some selection decisions and poor planning ahead of the World Cup, where Pakistan failed to qualify for the knockouts.

Chief selector since mid-2016, Inzamam headed the selection committee that also included Wasim Haider, Tauseef Ahmed and Wajahatullah Wasti.

His decision to rest captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and five other players for the one-day series against Australia in UAE before the World Cup was slammed by former stalwarts, critics and fans alike.

Inzamam claimed that the national team had come a long way since the retirements of stalwarts like Misbah-ul-Haq and Younus Khan in May 2017 and now the youngsters have grown in experience and stature.

“They are now ready to excel and perform consistently across the three formats. It has been a pleasure to see these players grow and make names for themselves in international cricket.

“I will follow their progress with interest because I firmly believe these players have all the ingredients to take the Pakistan cricket team to greater heights,” he said.

Inzamam did admit that the team could have done better during his tenure and the players have more potential than their results reflected.

“The team could have performed better during my time than the results reflect and I may have inadvertently overlooked some potentially deserving players, but I have always had the best interests of Pakistan cricket foremost in my heart. I hope the passionate Pakistan cricket fans will understand and can see this in my decisions.”

Inzamam insisted that he, along with captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and coach Mickey Arthur had worked well as a group, stayed together in difficult times and continued to collectively move in the same direction. Inzamam, meanwhile, made it clear that he was ready to take up any new job that the PCB offered him.

The 4192nd ODI witnessed was one of the greatest clashes in the history of the One Day International Game. In 11 World Cup editions, the closest victory margin was seven runs by Australia against England in 1987 at Kolkata. Now, England, with the pain of three World Cup final losses and New Zealand, the 2015 final losers, clashed against each other. It was already 6:45 AM in New Zealand.

100 overs later, a New Zealand-born cricketer playing for England almost hurt the Kiwis. Ben Stokes blasted 83 but the match ended in a tie and for the first time in World Cup history, the title would be decided on the super over.

Trent Boult leaked 15 runs and New Zealand needed 16 runs. James Neesham blasted a six off Jofra Archer, who came into the England side as a man of destiny having just qualified to play for the national side. Two runs were needed off one ball. Martin Guptill, who had endured a nightmare World Cup, had a chance for glory.

However, when he turned for a second, Guptill was run-out. The super over was tied. England had won the World Cup due to a bigger boundary count. Read that again: England won the World Cup because the boundary count was higher. 22 by England as compared to 16 by New Zealand.

(With inputs from PTI)