Uncertain Future for Pakistan in the Tournament
Pakistan’s performance in the current tournament has been a mixed bag, with two victories and four losses in their initial six matches. This leaves them with a slim chance of advancing to the semi-finals.
Inzamam Steps Down Amid Internal Investigation
The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed on Monday that Inzamam-ul-Haq has relinquished his role within the team, pending an internal probe.
Inzamam’s exit from his position may be temporary. The 53-year-old stated, “I am stepping down to allow the PCB to conduct a transparent inquiry into the conflict of interest allegations raised in the media. If the committee exonerates me, I will resume my role as the chief selector.”
Inzamam’s Resignation from Key Roles
Inzamam-ul-Haq has stepped down as the chairman of both the national men’s selection committee and the junior selection committee. His appointment as the chairman of the national men’s committee took place on 7 August 2023, and he was also named chairman of the junior men’s selection committee earlier.
Inzamam’s Previous Tenure and Achievements
The iconic Pakistan captain and batter previously held the position of men’s chief selector from 2016 to 2019, and he reassumed this role ahead of the Asia Cup earlier this year.
During his previous stint as the chief selector, Pakistan clinched the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy by defeating arch-rivals India by a margin of 180 runs at The Oval. He was also responsible for selecting the squad that won five out of nine league games at the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England and Wales, although they failed to progress to the knock-out stage.
Criticism Towards Inzamam and Captain Babar Azam
Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in India has led to some criticism directed at captain Babar Azam and Inzamam.
Head Coach Mikey Arthur Defends Team
However, head coach Mikey Arthur cautioned against assigning individual blame last week. He stated, “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, the effort of the players has been first-class. If they would see the amount of effort that the players and staff put in, they would be amazed.”