In a major development in Pakistan Cricket, the former legendary Pakistan cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq has been appointed as the new chief selector of the national men’s cricket team.
Inzamam-ul-Haq, the legendary Pakistan batsman, has officially accepted the position of chief selector once again, after previously serving in the same role from 2016 to 2019. During his previous tenure, Inzamam had worked closely with head coach Mickey Arthur, leading to notable successes like the 2017 Champions Trophy triumph and the 2019 World Cup.
A source from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed this development to the news agency PTI. According to the source, discussions were held among members of the Cricket Technical Committee, including Misbah ul Haq, Inzamam, and Muhammad Hafeez, to finalize the composition of the new selection panel.
The involvement of Director of cricket operations Mickey Arthur and head coach Grant Bradburn in the selection committee is still uncertain. Misbah ul Haq will consult with Pakistan’s skipper, Babar Azam, and their input will play a crucial role in determining whether the current structure of having both a team director and head coach on the selection panel has been beneficial for Pakistan’s cricketing fortunes.
New Selection Committee for Pakistan
“The Cricket Technical Committee members including Misbah ul Haq, Inzamam and Muhammad Hafeez have been discussing the new selection committee and it is yet to be decided whether Arthur and Bradburn should remain members on it,” the source told PTI.
After taking into account Babar Azam’s input, final recommendations will be presented by the Cricket Technical Committee to Chairman Zaka Ashraf. The primary decision to be made is whether Inzamam-ul-Haq should solely assume the responsibility as a chief selector or if a complete overhaul of the entire selection committee is necessary. Under Najam Sethi’s leadership as head of the Cricket Management Committee (CMC), a revamped selection committee was introduced, which included Arthur, Bradburn, and secretary Hasan Cheema, who oversees data analysts for the national team.
Looking ahead, Inzamam and Mickey Arthur’s immediate challenge is to form a strong ODI squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2023, which will be hosted by Pakistan in collaboration with Sri Lanka Cricket, using a hybrid model. Additionally, they will be tasked with selecting the team for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, to be held in India, starting from October 5.
