Pakistan’s Inzamam ul Haq steps down from chief selector over ‘conflict of interest’ allegations

Pakistan’s Inzamam ul Haq steps down from chief selector over ‘conflict of interest’ allegations , PCB said it has set up a five-member fact-finding committee to “investigate allegations in respect of conflict of interest”

who in Inzamam ul haq

Inzamam ul Haq is a former Pakistani cricketer, born on March 3, 1970, in Multan, Pakistan. He is considered one of the country’s most talented and successful batsmen. Inzamam ul Haq is renowned for his powerful and elegant batting style, often displaying remarkable skill and composure in high-pressure situations. He represented Pakistan in international cricket for over 15 years, playing in both Test and One Day International (ODI) matches. Inzamam served as the captain of the Pakistani cricket team for a significant period and is widely respected for his contributions to the sport.

Reason to step down from post

Former Pakistan cricketer Inzamam ul Haq has reportedly stepped down from his post as the chief selector for the Pakistan cricket team over allegations that he was also a shareholder in a prominent player management company. That role had led to conflict of interest allegations.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that it has established a five-member committee to look into allegations of conflicts of interest surrounding the team selection process, as reported in the media.

According to a statement from the PCB, this committee will promptly investigate the matter and present its findings and recommendations to the PCB Management.

This development comes as a fresh setback for Pakistan cricket, which is currently grappling with a challenging phase, with the national team positioned at 6th place in the ongoing Cricket World Cup standings. The team has managed to secure only two victories out of six matches so far.

In response to the situation, Inzamam was quoted by Pakistan’s Geo News, stating, “People often speak without proper research. Due to the raised concerns, I believed it was in the best interest to step down. It’s important for the PCB to conduct a thorough investigation. I have no affiliations with any player-agent company.”

What is the controversy?

At the center of the controversy lies a player-management company known as Yazoo International Limited. According to Cricket Pakistan, a Pakistani website, “Inzamam is a shareholder in Yazoo International Limited, a company owned by players’ agent Talha Rehmani. Rehmani represents some of Pakistan’s top cricketers, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.”

With the Pakistan cricket team encountering difficulties in India, there has been heightened scrutiny directed at the team. Consequently, this scrutiny has extended to Inzamam, who has held the position of chief selector since August. Zaka Ashraf, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) management committee, recently stated to a news channel, “It appears to be a conflict of interest. We will summon the chief selector and ask him to clarify whether this news is accurate or not. It seems plausible that if Talha has influence over seven to eight players, he might also be involved in the selection process. We will request the chief selector to provide an explanation.”

Ashraf further elaborated in an interview with Ary News, indicating that the PCB would introduce regulations concerning the business agreements of the cricketers and chief selectors. He emphasized, “Such business agreements could potentially lead to conflicts of interest within the team. The chief selectors will face questioning, and we will formulate regulations. If a single agent controls multiple players, it could create a monopoly. Business agreements and agents are significant matters, and the board will approach these issues with utmost seriousness.”

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